Tabcorp to ban overseas TAB account use and expand bet-voiding powers

Revised TAB account terms taking effect on October 30 will bar overseas access, while Tabcorp has set out its rights to void bets and expanded its powers to delay withdrawals.

In a message sent out this week, Tabcorp told customers the revisions account for current regulatory, operational and safer gambling requirements.

“Most customers will continue to use their account in the same way as they do today,” TAB said in a message to customers.

It said customers need to do nothing for now, but continued account use after October 30 would be subject to the revised terms.

Under the current terms, TAB can consent to an account being used overseas. From October 30, that exception ends and customers must be physically in Australia whenever they access or use their accounts.

The new rules also prohibit VPNs or comparable services used to conceal a customer’s location. Scraping TAB data or applying it to artificial-intelligence or machine-learning purposes is also prohibited.

TAB has also said it may ask customers to verify their State or Territory of residence and requires them to keep their residential details current. If a customer moves interstate, TAB could close the existing account and open a new one under a different TAB licence holder.

Customers may also face ongoing identity and financial checks, including checks on their source of funds and wealth. The terms also introduce a “Restricted Member” framework. 

TAB has said it may restrict an account if required verification cannot be completed, stopping betting and preventing deposits or withdrawals until the requested information is supplied.

Withdrawal requests could also be delayed or refused where reasonably necessary to investigate suspected fraud, scams, suspicious transactions or a compromised account.

TAB may also delay or refuse withdrawals to investigate suspected breaches of the terms or meet anti-money-laundering and other legal obligations. It says most withdrawals will proceed as normal, but some will need further checks before TAB releases the money.

TAB may also deduct amounts owed to it from a customer’s account balance or from balances in other accounts the customer holds with a TAB licence holder. Such debts may arise from chargebacks, mistaken credits, voided bets or account adjustments.

A disputed or reversed deposit may also lead to a temporary account suspension and a balance adjustment. It says it will take reasonable steps to notify customers before set-off where lawful.

The new prohibited-activities rules cover false information, account sharing, payment methods belonging to another person and misuse of promotions. Depending on the conduct and circumstances, TAB has said it may request information, restrict or close an account, or cancel bets.

Manifest error provisions expressly cover incorrect odds or prices, duplicated markets, wrong participant information and incorrect Cash Out offers. 

They also cover markets left open when they should have been suspended or shut, and settlement mistakes. If an obvious error occurs, TAB may declare affected bets and Cash Out transactions void, adjust payouts, or recalculate outcomes.

In another development, if a system or operational issue prevents the host operator of an international or national pool from declaring a dividend, bets may instead be retained in a national or local pool.

TAB has also expanded its safer-gambling terms and may contact customers about their gambling activity and restrict or close accounts under expanded safer-gambling terms.

Under the existing terms, Unrestricted Members who consider the changes detrimental can close their accounts without fees or charges during the 30-day notice period. TAB has encouraged customers to review the terms and make sure their residential details are current.