Online sports and betting agency Betchoice has been slugged with $60,000 in fines after its ads were found to have illegally attempted to lure people into gambling online.

Those inducements included “price push” offers, where punters would be given boosted or special odds.

The promotions were designed to lure people to begin gambling, or to open a new betting account, which is an offence under the NSW Gambling and Racing Act.

The company pleaded guilty to two offences and was fined $30,000 for each offence and ordered to pay the regulator’s costs at Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Monday.

The prosecution came after an investigation by Liquor and Gaming NSW into inducements to gamble and open betting accounts from Unibet, the name Betchoice trades under.

Liquor & Gaming’s Jane Lin says betting operators have an obligation to ensure that all advertising complies with NSW laws on gambling advertising.

“Inducements are known to increase the risk of gambling harm, so any breaches are taken seriously,” she said in a statement.

The company has previously been convicted for breaching betting regulations in 2021, and was fined $48,000 and similarly ordered to pay the regulator’s costs.

AAP has contacted Unibet for comment.