Northern Territory issues second in-play sports betting ultimatum to Aussie online sites

Online gambling operators in Australia have been told—again—to stop offering in-play sports wagers in the next four weeks.

On Wednesday, the Northern Territory Racing Commission (NTRC) sent its licensees another letter informing them that they have 28 days to close down any online in-play betting apps.

In June, NTRC gave its licensees until July 8 to shut down their online in-play offerings to “head off future action by the federal government.” But Aussie bookies, who lobbied against the ban, were given a reprieve after the commission announced it will hold a consultation process on the in-play issue.

The ban came after the federal government released its review of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, which permits in-play sports wagers only over the telephone. The review, which came out in April, recommended that the government close the loophole that had allowed some operators to offer voice-activated smartphone “click-to-call” apps that dodged the IGA’s online in-play restriction.