‘Free bet’ costing $200 not so smart for Bet365 after fines of $2.75m

June 11, 2016 3:23

Gaming company Bet365 has been handed $2.75m in fines after being found guilty of luring new customers with non-existent “free bets” worth $200.

Bet 365 conduct misleading and extensive court finds

The gaming giant, part of UK company Hillside (Shared Services) Ltd, which has been a huge advertiser in the Australian market with its ads headed by Samuel L Jackson, earned Australian revenue of more than $29m in the year the promotion appeared, between March 2013 and January 2014.

The Federal Court handed down the guilty ruling in December and has now fined the company for the misleading campaign in which it wasn’t made clear to punters that they would have to deposit and gamble their own $200 before becoming eligible for the “free” $200 bet.

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Simon Canning

Simon Canning was Mumbrella's marketing and advertising editor from 2015-2017. In a career spanning journalism and communications over more than 30 years Simon has become one of Australia’s most respected analysts and commentators on the advertising, marketing and media industries. A regular commentator on radio and TV, Simon has also worked in media in the US and UK .

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‘Free bet’ costing $200 not so smart for Bet365 after fines of $2.75m

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