Paddy Power’s Australian offshoot Sportsbet has become the latest operator to offer online in-play betting.

Shortly before Christmas, Sportsbet announced the launch of its new Bet Live feature, which allows punters to place in-play wagers via the Sportsbet Mobile App. The product allows punters to place in-play wagers without the need to speak to a live betting agent on the phone.

Sportsbet joins a growing list of Aussie-licensed operators to offer a workaround to the 2001 Interactive Gambling Act (IGA), which limits live betting to in-person transactions at retail betting outlets or via telephone. To date, William Hill, Ladbrokes and Bet365 have introduced similar apps.

Unlike those other operators, Sportsbet’s product actually involves a phone call over a public switched telephone network, which the company claims makes the app legally compliant. Punters select their wager via the app, click ‘call’ and then enter their stake via their phone’s keypad when prompted. Their wagering details can then be reviewed, after which the punter confirms the bet by pressing ‘1’.