The class action against Australia's largest online bookmaker is now locked in for a trial date. The Maurice Blackburn proceeding against Sportsbet Pty Ltd over its Fast Code in-play betting service is scheduled to commence in the Victorian Supreme Court on 3 August 2026, with an estimated hearing duration of two to three weeks. A parallel action against Entain, the parent of Ladbrokes and Neds, is expected to follow.
What the Case Is About
Australian law requires that in-play bets on sporting events be placed exclusively by telephone. Pre-match bets can be made online, but once the game begins, the Interactive Gambling Act mandates voice contact. Maurice Blackburn argues that Sportsbet's Fast Code service, which allowed customers to place live bets through the app via a short numeric code read to a call centre operator, circumvents the spirit and letter of that requirement.
The class action covers customers who placed in-play bets through Fast Code between 24 December 2018 and 24 December 2024. If the service is ultimately ruled illegal, affected customers may be entitled to recover their losses on those bets. Sportsbet has filed a counterclaim arguing that if the contracts were illegal, winning customers should also be required to return their winnings.
A parallel action against Ladbrokes and Neds parent Entain over the same practice has been filed but no trial date has been set. The cases have potential flow-on effects for other operators that offered similar in-play services during the same period.
The Bigger Picture
In-play betting is a flashpoint for regulators, operators and reform advocates. The Gambling Policy Hub estimates that in-play betting accounts for a small but meaningful share of Australia's $31.5 billion in annual gambling losses. ACMA recently penalised Tabcorp $158,400 for illegal in-play tennis bets, and a 2024 review found multiple operators using voice-to-code workarounds that critics argue are effectively online betting.
Operators have consistently defended Fast Code and similar products as legitimate phone bets. The ABC's 7.30 program reported that Sportsbet and Entain both state they operate in a heavily regulated environment and are committed to meeting their legal obligations.
What This Means for Punters
If you placed live bets with Sportsbet using Fast Code between December 2018 and December 2024, you are automatically part of the class unless you opt out. No action is required to participate. Maurice Blackburn is running the case on a no-win no-fee basis. The outcome will take months to resolve even after the hearing, and any compensation would depend on Sportsbet's eventual position. Punters with active accounts at affected operators can continue using services normally. Whichever way the case lands, expect the Interactive Gambling Act provisions around in-play betting to be tightened in the next regulatory cycle.