Tabcorp Fined $158,400 for Illegal In-Play Sports Bets

ACMA Media Releases

Filed February 12th, 2026

Detected March 13th, 2026

Summary

Tabcorp Holdings Limited has paid a $158,400 penalty to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) for accepting 426 illegal in-play sports bets. This is the third breach of in-play betting rules by Tabcorp since 2021.

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What changed

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has imposed a $158,400 penalty on Tabcorp Holdings Limited for accepting 426 illegal in-play sports bets between February 2024 and June 2025. This action follows an ACMA investigation that found Tabcorp breached the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 by accepting wagers on sporting events after they had commenced. This marks Tabcorp's third violation of in-play betting rules since 2021.

Tabcorp has also entered into an enforceable undertaking with the ACMA, requiring a review of its systems and processes for closing bets and regular reporting to the ACMA. The ACMA emphasized that wagering operators cannot outsource their legal responsibilities to third-party providers. Further non-compliance by Tabcorp could lead to proceedings in the Federal Court, highlighting the critical need for robust compliance systems to prevent illegal betting activities.

What to do next

Review and update systems and processes to prevent the acceptance of illegal in-play bets.
Ensure third-party providers comply with all relevant gambling regulations.
Report regularly to the ACMA as per the enforceable undertaking.

Penalties

$158,400 penalty

Source document (simplified)

Tabcorp pays $158,400 penalty for taking illegal in-play sports bets

12 February 2026

Tabcorp Holdings Limited (Tabcorp) has paid a $158,400 penalty for taking online in-play sports bets, which is illegal in Australia.

An Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) investigation found Tabcorp accepted 426 in-play bets across 32 tennis matches between February 2024 and June 2025.

Online in-play betting, wagers made on a sporting event after it has commenced, is prohibited in Australia under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA) .

The online in-play sports bets that were accepted in breach of the IGA were voided by Tabcorp and the bets were refunded.

The ACMA accepted the evidence from Tabcorp that the breaches occurred due to systems and communication issues with its third-party provider.

ACMA member Carolyn Lidgerwood said this is the third time since 2021 that Tabcorp has breached the in-play betting rules.

“The law is clear and wagering services must have processes in place to prevent illegal in-play bets from being accepted,” Ms Lidgerwood said.

“While we understand that most wagering operators rely on third-party providers to close betting on sporting events, they cannot outsource their legal responsibilities.

“The length of time it took Tabcorp to identify and then fix the problem was concerning and we expect Tabcorp to do better in the future,” Ms Lidgerwood said.

In addition to the financial penalty, Tabcorp has entered into a comprehensive enforceable undertaking requiring the company to undertake a review of its systems and processes relating to the closing of betting on tennis matches and to report regularly to the ACMA.

Any further non-compliance by Tabcorp may result in proceedings through the Federal Court.

MR 04/2026