This article reports on regulatory action taken against BlueBet by Australian authorities for failing to meet responsible gambling standards. Here’s a summary of the key points:

Regulatory Penalty

• BlueBet has been fined AU$53,000 by the Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission (NTRWC)
• The operator must also return AU$522,020 to the affected customer
• The incident dates back to 2021

Details of the Violation

• BlueBet allowed a single VIP customer to gamble continuously for 11 hours, spending AU$40,000 in one session
• Over several months, this customer spent a total of AU$700,000, losing most of it
• The customer had informed BlueBet they had run out of money to gamble with
• Instead of intervening, BlueBet’s VIP manager offered additional wagers to keep the person playing
• The VIP manager’s commission was tied to the customer’s net gambling revenue
• BlueBet awarded the customer VIP status and assigned a dedicated account manager

Regulator’s Findings

• The NTRWC described the incident as “unacceptable” and “extremely concerning”
• The regulator found no attempt by BlueBet to express concern over the person’s gambling habits
• BlueBet “missed multiple opportunities for timely and appropriate action”
• The regulator concluded that BlueBet prioritized keeping profitable customers playing over responsible gambling commitments
• The responsibility fell on the complainant rather than BlueBet taking a more assertive role in protecting them from harm

BlueBet’s Response

• BlueBet has denied the regulator’s allegations that it failed to intervene and act appropriately