Using corrupt conduct information for betting purposes is an offence under Section 193Q(1) of the Crimes Act 1900, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
To establish the offence, the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that:
- You possessed corrupt conduct information,
- You knew or were reckless as to whether the information was such, and
- You bet on an event, or you encouraged another to bet on an event in a particular way, or you communicated the information to another person, where you knew or ought reasonably have known the other person would, or would be likely to, bet on the event.
‘Conduct’ means any act or omission to perform an act.
‘Corrupt conduct information’ is that which corrupts the outcome of an event.
Conduct ‘corrupts the betting outcome of an event’ if:
- It affects, or would be likely to affect, the outcome of the event, and
- It is contrary to the standards of integrity that a reasonable person would expect of someone in your position.
‘Bet’ includes placing, accepting or withdrawing a bet, as well as causing a bet to be placed, accepted or withdrawn.
‘Encourage’ includes to command, request, propose, advise, incite, induce, persuade, authorise, urge, threaten or place pressure on.
‘Communicate’ includes causing to be communicated.
You were reckless if you foresaw the possibility that the information was corrupt conduct information, but went ahead with your actions regardless.
Duress is a defence to the charge.
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Using inside information for betting purposes is an offence under Section 193Q(2) of the Crimes Act 1900, which carries a maximum penalty of 2 years in prison.
To establish the offence, the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that:
- You possessed inside information,
- You knew or were reckless as to whether the information was such, and
- You bet on an event, or you encouraged another to bet on an event in a particular way, or you communicated the information to another person where you knew or ought reasonably have known the other person would, or would be likely to, bet on the event.
‘Conduct’ means any act or omission to perform an act.
‘Inside information’ is that which is:
- Not generally available, and
- If it were generally available would, or would be likely to, influence persons who commonly bet on the event to decide whether to bet on the event, or to make any other betting decision.
Information is ‘generally available’ if it:
- Consists of matters that are readily observable by the public, or
- Have been made known in a manner that would, or would be likely to, bring it to the attention to the public.
‘Bet’ includes placing, accepting or withdrawing a bet as well as causing a bet to be placed, accepted or withdrawn.
‘Encourage’ includes to command, request, propose, advise, incite, induce, persuade, authorise, urge, threaten or place pressure on.
‘Communicate’ includes causing to be communicated.
You were reckless if you foresaw the possibility that the information was inside information but went ahead with your actions regardless.
Duress is a defence to the charge.
If you are going to court for the offence of Use of Corrupt Conduct Information or Inside Information for Betting Purposes, call Sydney Criminal Lawyers 24/7 on (02) 9261 8881 to arrange a free first conference with an experienced defence lawyer who will advise you of your options and the best way forward, and fight to secure the optimal outcome.
Read on for more information.
The Legislation
Section 193Q of the Crimes Act 1900 deals with the offence of ‘Use of Corrupt Conduct Information or Inside Information for Betting Purposes’ and reads as follows:
193Q Use of Corrupt Conduct Information or Inside Information for Betting Purposes
(1) A person who possesses information in connection with an event that is corrupt conduct information, and who knows or is reckless as to whether the information is corrupt conduct information, is guilty of an offence if the person:
(a) bets on the event, or
(b) encourages another person to bet on the event in a particular way, or
(c) communicates the information to another person who the first person knows or ought reasonably to know would or would be likely to bet on the event.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years.
(2) A person who possesses information in connection with an event that is inside information, and who knows or is reckless as to whether the information is inside information, is guilty of an offence if the person:
(a) bets on the event, or
(b) encourages another person to bet on the event in a particular way, or
(c) communicates the information to another person who the first person knows or ought reasonably to know would or would be likely to bet on the event.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
(3) Information in connection with an event is
“corrupt conduct information” if the information is about conduct, or proposed conduct, that corrupts a betting outcome of the event.
(4) Information in connection with an event is
“inside information” if the information:
(a) is not generally available, and
(b) if it were generally available, would, or would be likely to, influence persons who commonly bet on the event in deciding whether or not to bet on the event or making any other betting decision.
(5) Information is
“generally available” if:
(a) it consists of matter that is readily observable by the public, or
(b) it has been made known in a manner that would, or would be likely to, bring it to the attention of the public, or
(c) it consists of deductions, conclusions or inferences made or drawn from information referred to in paragraph (a) or (b).
(6) In proceedings for an offence against subsection (1) (b) or (c) or (2) (b) or (c) it is not necessary to prove that the person encouraged to bet, or to whom information was communicated, actually bet on the event concerned.
(7) If, on the trial of a person for an offence under subsection (1), the trier of fact is not satisfied that the accused is guilty of the offence charged but is satisfied that the accused is guilty of an offence under subsection (2), it may find the accused not guilty of the offence charged but guilty of an offence under subsection (2), and the accused is liable to punishment accordingly.
(8) A reference in this section to communicating information includes a reference to causing information to be communicated.
Why Choose Sydney Criminal Lawyers®?
Going to court can be nerve-racking, but having a strong and compassionate legal team behind you can make the experience significantly easier to deal with.
Here are 12 reasons to choose our multi-award winning legal team:
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Proven Track Record of Exceptional Results
Sydney Criminal Lawyers® consistently achieves outcomes which are in the highest percentile of the Judicial Commission’s sentencing statistics for criminal cases.
Our legal team devises effective case-strategies and fights hard to have cases dropped entirely or charges downgraded – saving clients the time, expense and stress of a defended hearing or jury trial.
Where cases nevertheless proceed, our lawyers have an outstanding track record of winning defended Local Court hearings, and complex jury trials in the District and Supreme Courts.
We also consistently win appeals in the District and Supreme Courts (including the NSWCCA) after clients have received unsatisfactory results with other law firms in the lower courts.We are one of the few firms to achieve successful criminal law appeals in the High Court of Australia.
Where our clients wish to plead guilty, we frequently achieve ‘dismissals’ and ‘non convictions’ in cases where other lawyers have advised there is no chance of doing so.
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Highest Level of Client Satisfaction
We have the best and most comprehensive client review record of any law firm in Australia.
Regular communication, accessibility and quality service are our team’s highest priorities.
We are committed to thoroughly explaining all steps involved in the criminal law process, providing regular updates throughout the proceedings, and making ourselves accessible and responsive.
We are passionate about providing an exceptional level of service to our clients, and we fight hard to achieve optimal results in the shortest period of time.
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Australia’s Most Awarded Criminal Law Firm
We have received more awards and accolades than any other criminal law firm in Australia. Our team has been awarded “Criminal Defence Firm of the Year in Australia” in a number of prestigious and competitive awards programs for several years running.
The awards recognise our exceptional track record of results, our outstanding client service, the high level of satisfaction we achieve, the affordability of our services and our overall excellence.
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Fixed Fees
We want our clients to know exactly how much their cases will cost from the very start. That’s why we were the first criminal law firm in Australia to publish ‘fixed fees’, back in 2004.
We offer fixed fees for most types of criminal cases and services.Our fixed fees apply to a range of Local Court cases such as drink driving, drug possession, fraud, common assault and AVOs, and also specific services such as prison visits, bail applications, appeals and defended hearings.
Unlike many other law firms, our fixed fees are published on our website – which ensures transparency and certainty.
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Free First Appointment
For those who are going to court, we offer a free first conference of up to an hour with one of our Senior Criminal Defence Lawyers.
We also offer a free first conference to those who have received an unsatisfactory result after being represented in court by another law firm, or after representing themselves, and wish to appeal.
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Specialist Lawyer Guarantee
We guarantee that only lawyers with substantial criminal defence experience will work on your case and appear for you in court.
This ensures our clients receive the highest quality representation from an experienced, specialist criminal lawyer.
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All NSW Courts
From Bombala to Broken Hill, our lawyers appear in courts throughout New South Wales – and across Australia for Commonwealth cases.
And we offer fixed fees for most criminal and traffic law cases throughout the state.
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Accredited Specialists
Our entire firm is exclusively dedicated to criminal law – which makes us true specialists.
All of our lawyers have years of experience representing clients in criminal cases, and our principal has been certified by the Law Society of NSW as an Accredited Criminal Law Specialist since 2005.
An ‘Accredited Specialist’ is a lawyer who has practised for at least 5 years in a particular field of law (such as criminal law), has passed a rigorous assessment process conducted by the Law Society of NSW, and has been selected by the Specialist Accreditation Committee of the Law Society as an expert in the field.
Accredited Specialists are required to undertake more training each year than other lawyers and must be successful in having their accreditation renewed every year. Specialist Accreditation is the mark of a true specialist.
Our firm’s specialist experience ensures you receive the best possible result, whatever your criminal law case may be.
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Results-Focused Law Firm
Our team is passionate about achieving results, and unlike many other law firms, our lawyers do not have monthly financial ‘budgets’ to meet.
The absence of budgets means our lawyers are entirely focused on achieving optimal results in the shortest space of time; whether by getting charges dropped or downgraded at an early stage or having cases ‘thrown out of court’.
Not having budgets also means our lawyers are not under pressure to engage in unscrupulous practices such as unnecessarily adjourning cases or ‘overcharging’ clients – which, sadly, is a common complaint against many other lawyers and law firms.
No budgets encourages regular consultation between lawyers within the firm – promoting an ‘open door’, team environment where lawyers bounce ideas off one another, formulate case strategy together and benefit from each other’s specialised experience, methods, techniques and insights.
The result is a firm which delivers optimal outcomes in the shortest time periods, at the least expense and stress to our clients.
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Team of Lawyers Behind You
Our clients benefit from the pool of knowledge that only an extensive team of experienced criminal defence lawyers can provide.
Our lawyers regularly consult one another to stay ‘ahead of the pack’ in the ever-changing field of criminal law – constantly devising, refining and implementing specialised techniques which ensure our clients achieve the best possible outcomes.
A team approach is particularly important when it comes to serious criminal cases such as murder, commercial drug cases, serious and sexual assaults, large-scale fraud, robbery and other ‘indictable’ cases.
In such matters, clients reap the benefits of several lawyers devising and executing case strategies which maximise the chances of having cases dropped or downgraded at an early stage, or ‘thrown out of court’ – often saving clients a great deal of cost, time and anxiety.
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Familiar with Magistrates and Judges
Each of our lawyers appears in court on a daily basis, and has done so for years. We have therefore been able to develop an understanding of, and rapport with, magistrates and judges in Sydney and indeed across the state.
Our team’s extensive experience before the courts ensures your case is tailored to the specific nuances of individual judicial officers, maximising the likelihood of a favourable result.
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Convenience
We have offices in locations across the Sydney Metropolitan Area and beyond, including:
We offer free parking at our Sydney CBD offices, and all of our offices are close to train stations and bus terminals.
For those who are unable to attend our offices, we offer conferences by telephone, Skye and FaceTime anywhere around the world.
If you are going to court and wish to arrange a free first consultation, call our 24 hour hotline on (02) 9261 8881 or send us an email at info@sydneycriminallawyers.com.au.