The Australian betting market is getting busier and busier as more companies launch their services to local residents. We are seeing a proliferation of online bookmakers, which means that competition is becoming increasingly fierce. Recently, two local operators have found themselves embroiled in a legal battle over their employees.
SportsBet is an Australian online bookmaker which is owned by Paddy Power, a UK-based operator. Recently, the company’s chief executive Matthew Tripp left SportsBet to create his own company, BetEzy. As expected, SportsBet was in danger of losing some employees to BetEzy, so the company has launched legal action against suspected defectors.
Last week, SportsBet filed an injunction against Kelli Carpanini, an employee who quit SportsBet to pursue a career with BetEzy. Normally this type of transfer is fine, but the company alleges that the former employee made the transition during a period of non-compete restraint. Several individuals that were previously associated with SportsBet have now started working with BetEzy.
Original investors in the site have now invested in BetEzy, after serving a non-compete period for SportsBet. Carpanini seems to be the only former employee that has violence their non-compete clause, but SportsBet will likely keep a close eye on its former employees to ensure that others do not follow suit.
Companies often include these types of clauses in employee contracts to prevent direct competitors from gaining an unfair competitive advantage. Since Australia’s bookmaking market is so competitive, it is important to bookmakers that their employees stick to these rules. BetEzy is now open for business in the Australian bookmaking market.
The company offers up a wide range of markets, including racing, snooker, football and rugby. Mobile betting is also available for players who wish to punt from their mobile phones and tablet computers.
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