Tabcorp fined $3.12 million by Victorian regulator for responsible gambling breaches

Tabcorp, Australia’s largest gambling company, has been hit with an AU$4.6 million ($3.12 million) fine by the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) over breaches of the state’s gambling code between 2020 and 2023.

The VGCCC found that Tabcorp had systemic failures in its responsible gambling measures, including inadequate staff training and sending marketing materials to a customer who had opted out. One notable incident involved a customer flagged as a problem gambler, who lost AU$135,000 in a single month. Despite being identified as high-risk, the customer was offered an AU$2,000 deposit match promotion.

VGCCC Chair Fran Thorn emphasized that the breaches reflected a broader cultural problem within Tabcorp. "The recorded call provides evidence of a lack of commitment to responsible gambling policies and demonstrates a lack of concern for the customer's wellbeing," Thorn said. "This action is indicative of a culture in which the license holder's harm minimization obligations were not taken seriously."

The AU$4.6 million penalty is the largest ever imposed by the VGCCC on Tabcorp. Thorn added that the fine could have been as high as AU$9.1 million due to the severity of the misconduct.

Tabcorp has been ordered to overhaul its internal systems, improve harm minimization measures, and implement changes by the end of 2025. The VGCCC will actively monitor the company’s progress.

In response, Tabcorp acknowledged its failings, stating that its harm minimization measures at the time "did not meet community or regulatory expectations." The company noted it had since taken "significant steps" to improve customer safety, including restructuring its safer gambling team and implementing new technology to detect problematic gambling behavior earlier.

On a broader note, Thorn supported the idea of banning gambling ads on television, citing the harm caused by the widespread exposure to such advertising in Australia.