Update: Sportsbet Dispute with Aussie State of Victoria to Set Precedent?

A litigation between Paddy Power's Aussie subsidiary Sportsbet and the state of Victoria over a A$200 free bet promotional offer, as simple as it may seem at first sight, could set a far-reaching precedent in the country. The whole case revolves around the question of whether an operator based and licensed in one territory or province can be held criminally responsible for the appearance of its promotional offers on the computer or mobile screens of punters in another state. The Victorians claim that offering incentives to open a betting account is illegal in that province, while Sportsbet legal representatives argued that the company is licensed and has its servers in the Northern Territory, so the offer had been legally made in the Northern Territory, as promotional inducements were not covered in any interstate compacts between the two provinces. Also, the Sportsbet reps warned that should the court decide in favor of the fine, this could have serious consequences for any website visible to internet or mobile users in Victoria.