PlayUp Interactive Fined Record AU$586,000 for Advertising Violations in New South Wales

PlayUp’s DraftStars site faced penalties for 33 illegal advertisements that included inducements to gamble frequently and to open betting accounts—both prohibited under New South Wales (NSW) advertising regulations.

As a result, PlayUp was fined AU$586,000 (£303,261/€355,331/US$393,485) in the Downing Centre Local Court.

Zero tolerance for advertising breaches in NSW

Dimitri Argeres, Director of Compliance and Enforcement at Liquor & Gaming NSW, emphasized that the ruling reflects the regulator’s strict approach to breaches.
“While wagering operators like PlayUp Interactive may legally advertise their products, they must not promote inducements such as increased odds or bonus bets to encourage account sign-ups,” Argeres said. “It is the responsibility of betting service providers to ensure that such gambling advertisements do not appear in NSW.”

A consistent stance on rule-breakers

PlayUp is not the first operator penalized for illegal advertising in NSW. Earlier this year, SportsChamps was fined AU$17,500 for similar inducements. Since 2016, operators have paid over $1 million in fines following actions by Liquor & Gaming NSW.

PlayUp’s challenges in the US market

Despite ongoing difficulties in the US, PlayUp’s Australian operations continue under the PlayUp and DraftStars brands. The company lost its New Jersey sports betting license in July last year and closed its Colorado sportsbook amid rumors of a potential buyer that never materialized.

A proposed sale to the now-defunct crypto trading platform FTX collapsed, triggering a lawsuit against PlayUp’s former US CEO, which was later dismissed. Additionally, a planned SPAC merger with IG Acquisition Corp fell through when IG exited the talks.

Last July, some employees hinted that these US setbacks might indicate broader issues within the Australian business, though no further updates have been made public since.