William Hill has just launched its new brand in Australia, and the online gaming operator aims to offer players plenty of benefits for using its services. Unfortunately, one of the perks that William Hill is offering to players could be considered illegal, as providing credit for gambling is frowned upon by local authorities.
Recently, William Hill has started calling Australian customers, offering them a ‘deferred settlement facility’ – which is a credit to gamble on the site. According to News.com.au, players have been offered as much as $1000 in credit and given up to a week to pay the operator back. Any players that receive credit would be subject to an approval process.
These calls are being made as part of William Hill’s marketing campaign, informing SportingBet customers that the rebranding has taken place. Players were told about many new features of the site, including the option to receive credit. While many online gaming operators in Australia offer credit to players, there are some restrictions placed on these promotions which vary from state to state.
For example, in New South Wales, gambling operators ‘must not publish any gambling advertising that offers any credit, voucher or reward as an inducement to participate in any gambling activity, including as an inducement to open a betting account’ – however, NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming & Racing states that William’s Hill offer does not violate this particular law.
“It’s a good way for people to get sucked in,” says Dr Charles Livingstone, a gambling researcher at Monash University. “We know that people who are regular online gamblers have a higher rate of becoming problem gamblers. It’s a cruel incentive to people who are experiencing a problem”. Pokie reform advocate Nick Xenophon echoes these sentiments.
He says: “It’s predatory behaviour. This is a case of people using credit and not betting with their own money — it’s a gateway to a gambling addiction.”
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