Robbie Waterhouse, a prominent figure in the Australian betting industry, is currently facing allegations of breaching gambling regulations. The accusations stem from claims that Waterhouse’s company offered inducements to a customer who had requested that his account be permanently closed. The customer allegedly received incentives to make additional deposits and placed new bets even after requesting the account closure.
Waterhouse appeared in court to deny these charges, but the case has been delayed until November 15 due to the relocation of the magistrate overseeing the proceedings. The state regulator, Liquor and Gaming NSW, alleges that a RobWaterhouse.com employee accepted six bets from the customer in question on May 14, 2022, despite the account closure request.
Chat logs between the customer and the support team were presented as evidence, showing the customer expressing dissatisfaction after a no-deposit bonus request was denied. Subsequently, the customer was reportedly offered a deposit match bonus of AUD$1,000 to reopen the account, potentially violating regulations if done after the closure request.
Furthermore, it is alleged that the account was not permanently closed as requested, but rather suspended. Waterhouse is facing a total of eleven charges, including offering incentives to keep a betting account open and accepting new bets after a closure request, all of which he has pleaded not guilty to.
Robbie Waterhouse comes from a family with a history of controversies in the betting industry. In 1984, both he and his father, Bill Waterhouse, were involved in the infamous Fine Cotton affair, a horse race substitution scam where white paint was used to disguise a thoroughbred’s identity. As a result, they received lengthy bans and were warned off racetracks for 14 years.
Despite the scandal, Robbie Waterhouse successfully regained his license in 2001 after his ban was lifted. If found guilty of the current charges, Waterhouse could face a fine of up to AUD$121,000. The outcome of the case will be determined after the magistrate returns to make a decision in November.
Overall, the allegations against Robbie Waterhouse highlight the ongoing challenges and controversies within the Australian betting industry. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding gambling regulations and ensuring transparency and fairness in all betting practices.