Betting website MintBet has been fined $100,000 by a regulator for allowing a customer to gamble for long 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, the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission said on April 2.
The customer placed 327 bets and lost $31,149 (US$20.26).
The commission held the bookmaker responsible for not preventing the customer placing more bets despite signs of addiction.
The responsible gambling code of conduct requires bookmakers to suspend customers who show signs of distress or addiction.
MintBet closed the account when the customer identified they were experiencing harm from their gambling.
The commission found that while MintBet had some systems to ensure vulnerable individuals did not experience a loss of control from their gambling, they were inadequate, which also breaches a requirement of their code.
MintBet will have to show the commission what improvements it will make meet the code of conduct.
The commission will consider MintBet’s response and determine whether further action is necessary.
“Even if accepting bets online, providers must monitor for and intervene when customers are displaying indicators of distress,'' Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission chief executive Scott May said.
