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For failing to follow instructions regarding a 2020 system downtime, Tabcorp was fined a record-breaking $1 million by the Victorian regulator.

September 5, 2023 World iGaming & Gambling

Original Story by Newsdesk for IAG

Due to Tabcorp’s disregard for two orders given during an inquiry into a large system outage, the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) has fined the Australian racing and betting corporation an unprecedented AU$1 million (US$646,000). This fine is the biggest one Tabcorp has ever received from Victoria’s regulatory body.

The fine was connected to a significant system failure that happened during the 2020 Spring Racing Carnival, the VGCCC stated on a recent Tuesday. This sanction was imposed as a result of Tabcorp’s repeated unwillingness to provide the Commission with information regarding the outage that rendered Tabcorp’s Wagering and Betting System (WBS) inaccessible for almost 36 hours.

The large penalty was imposed on Tabcorp as a result of its lack of cooperation and compliance with these instructions, according to Commission Chair Fran Thorn. We won’t put up with licensees who aren’t forthcoming and cooperative throughout the Commission’s investigations, said Thorn.

The occurrence in question occurred on November 7, 2020, and the Wagering and Betting Licence and Agreement made clear that the WBS had to be always accessible. The VGCCC opened an investigation and issued instructions as a result of Tabcorp’s refusal to voluntarily give all necessary information. The VGCCC found it more difficult to pinpoint the main reason for the substantial outage and to have faith that such an occurrence wouldn’t happen again as a result of Tabcorp’s conduct during the investigation and in response to the instructions.

The VGCCC determined that Tabcorp did not adhere to the first direction since the business continuity and disaster recovery mechanisms put in place by the WBS after the outage were judged insufficient. By delivering a compliant report four months after the deadline had passed, Tabcorp was also deemed to have broken the second instruction.