The Australian Communications and Media Authority has confirmed that Tabcorp's Tap in-play betting system does not breach the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. The finding comes after a detailed investigation into whether the product, which lets customers build live bets on their phones and finalise them by tapping against a terminal inside a licensed venue, constitutes a prohibited online gambling service.
ACMA concluded that the Tap in-play service qualifies as a "place-based betting service" under section 8BA of the IGA. That exception, inserted into the Act in 2017, allows in-play bets to be placed at licensed venues using electronic equipment, provided the equipment is available to any customer at the venue and the operator holds the relevant state or territory licence.
How the System Works
The Tap in-play product lets customers at Tabcorp retail venues construct a live bet on the TAB app using their own smartphone. The bet is not placed until the customer physically taps their device against a dedicated station inside the venue. This two-step process, building the bet digitally and confirming it in person, was central to ACMA's analysis. The regulator accepted that requiring physical interaction with in-venue equipment meant the service functions as a retail product rather than an online one.
ACMA noted that the system also includes real-time monitoring tools designed to detect and flag risky gambling behaviour. These safeguards were assessed as stronger than the protections available through traditional electronic betting terminals already operating in TAB outlets.
Industry Implications
The ruling is significant because it opens the door for Tabcorp to expand the Tap in-play product beyond its initial trial locations. Any wider rollout will still need approval from individual state and territory regulators, and ACMA has flagged that ongoing oversight will continue. Tabcorp must provide regular updates on the monitoring system and report any incidents connected to its use.
The positive finding arrives at a complicated time for Tabcorp. Earlier this year, ACMA issued eight infringement notices totalling $158,400 to Tabcorp for a separate breach involving illegal online in-play tennis bets. The company also received sanctions for BetStop compliance failures. The Tap ruling does not affect those enforcement outcomes.
What This Means for Punters
If you bet through TAB venues, you may soon see Tap in-play stations at more locations across the country. The product is restricted to customers physically present in the venue, so it will not be available through the TAB app at home. For now, in-play betting in Australia remains venue-only. More details on the IGA's in-play provisions are available on the ACMA investigations page.