Betting App Penalized for Allowing Customer to Gamble Continuously for 35 Hours
Even if accepting bets online, providers must monitor for and intervene when customers are displaying indicators of distress.
Betting website MintBet has been fined $100,000 by a regulator for allowing a customer to gamble for extended periods of time.
The customer gambled through their online account with MintBet for 35 hours over a period of about 50 hours in late 2022, as reported by the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission on April 2.
During this time, the customer placed a total of 327 bets and ended up losing $31,149 (US$20.26).
Despite signs of addiction, the commission found the bookmaker responsible for not preventing the customer from placing more bets.
Bookmakers are required by the responsible gambling code of conduct to suspend customers who exhibit signs of distress or addiction.
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MintBet took action by closing the customer’s account once they acknowledged the harm caused by their gambling behavior.
The commission concluded that while MintBet had some systems in place to prevent vulnerable individuals from losing control of their gambling habits, these systems were insufficient, also violating a requirement of their code.
MintBet will need to demonstrate to the commission the improvements they plan to make to comply with the code of conduct.
The commission will review MintBet’s response and decide if further measures are necessary.
“Even if accepting bets online, providers must monitor for and intervene when customers are displaying indicators of distress,” stated Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission chief executive Scott May.
