Thread by @abc730

An #abc730 investigation can reveal details about the powerful machinery behind one of the country’s leading sports betting operators. @FarrellPF @amy_donaldson @ingating abc.net.au/news/2019-03-0…

#abc730 can reveal Sportsbet has spent almost half a billion dollars since 2013 promoting online gambling in Australia, pumping millions into Facebook, Google and other social media and search platforms.

Documents obtained by #abc730 through the Federal Court reveal Sportsbet has also been using de-identified data from NAB account transactions in order to target new gamblers. #auspol

Sportsbet’s bottom line is helped by offering bets on almost anything. It’s registered in the Northern Territory, which has generous tax benefits for gambling operators. #abc730 #auspol

#abc730 has obtained documents that reveal a brazen marketing strategy worth almost half a billion dollars in the last five years. #auspol

The gambling giant has pursued an aggressive social media push in that time, paying google $61 million dollars, $18 million to Facebook, $2 million each to Twitter and YouTube and even dating apps like tinder received $41,000. #abc730 #auspol

It’s not just companies engaging in advertising deals with Sportsbet. Deals have also been made with hundreds of individuals. Sportsbet offers has a hidden network of deals with websites known as affiliates. #abc730 #auspol

Sportsbet must submit all affiliate deals to the Northern Territory regulator for approval. We found hundreds in these documents, but the regulator wouldn’t confirm how many it has authorised. #abc730 #auspol

The Sportsbet files reveal the company has been buying valuable intelligence on gamblers to give it the upper hand. #abc730 #auspol

Unknown to most of its customers, National Australia Bank shares vast amounts of transaction data, without identifying details like names & birthdates, to a company called Quantium, almost 50% owned by Woolworths. Quantium analyses the data & then sells its findings to Sportsbet

'I think most people would be pretty shocked to know that their bank is sharing their transactional information,' Lauren Levin #abc730 #auspol

'Australia was once the leader in starting to get on top of gambling advertising, particularly on young men and children, maybe we’ve fallen behind and we need to reconsider where we go to from here,' Samantha Thomas #abc730 #auspol

You can read the statement from Sportsbet here: documentcloud.org/documents/5758…

You can read the statement from NAB here: documentcloud.org/documents/5758…

You can read the statement from Quantium here: documentcloud.org/documents/5758…

You can read the statement from the AFL here: documentcloud.org/documents/5758…

You can read the statement from Responsible Wagering Australia here: documentcloud.org/documents/5758…

You can read the statement from Woolworths here: documentcloud.org/documents/5758…