Betezy licence at risk in Oz

The Australian online bookie Betezy will be holding its breath today as Northern Territory Licensing commissioners consider its future, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Gambling officials have been investigating the company and its association with four AFL clubs and three NRL clubs, enquiring whether its activities are authorised by the territory’s Racing and Betting Act and the conditions of its licence.

The newspaper reports that the NT Racing Commission is believed to have heard allegations that the bookmaker has not paid some clubs the full amount owed under its contracts to operate club ”white label” internet websites.

So far Betezy director Ryan Kay has apparently not responded to newspaper requests for comment.

Allegations of underpayment have already been aired in the Federal Court by a club which parted ways with Betezy last year and last week signed a two-year deal with rival Northern Territory bookmaker Sportsbet.

In a lawsuit filed in November, the Knights club, owned by mining magnate Nathan Tinkler, alleged Betezy owed the club more than A$200,000 in fees and a share of profits from the Knightsbet website. It is understood the case was settled with a confidential agreement.

Another club, the Kangaroos, has also been at the centre of payment issues with Betezy; the club reportedly abandoned its deal with Betezy to run the Roosbet website in December last year, with a club spokesman saying the termination was by mutual agreement.

Three of the white label sites – Knightsbet, Roosbet and Crowsbet appear to have been shut down, with attempts to get access redirected to the main Betezy website. Other club white labels are apparently still operational.

Last November the Tax Office asked the Federal Court to wind up the company over an unpaid A$160,000 tax bill, which was subsequently paid.