While most online gambling discussions seem to be taking place in the United States, Australia has now come to the forefront as a country looking to change their current online gambling laws. Tony Abbott, the Prime Minister of Australia has taken steps to address the current state of iGaming in the country. Just last week, Scott Morrison, the Minister of Social Services, was asked by Abbott to take charge of a review of the 2001 Interactive Gambling Act of Australia.
The federal government plans on providing terms of reference for review while the Social Services group plans on providing opportunity for anyone who wishes to be involved in the online gambling review. Many are speculating that Abbott plans on using the review to create tighter regulations when it comes to offshore betting facility operators. However, Morrison has stated that the government is not interested in preconceived ideas and the review will be conducted in good faith.
News reports suggest that the review of the gambling laws was intensified by the recent federal investigations of a new sports betting system that was created by sportsbook operators based offshores. Voice over IP technology is being used to mimic live telephone calls so that bettors have access to live game betting which is technically against the law.
Stakeholders of the gambling industry in the country as well as parliament ministers have become concerned over issues regarding the IGA. Laws of online gambling in Australia are considered faulted due to the advancement of technologies. Online gambling is now more sophisticated and operators are finding ways around the 2001 law.
Additional news reports suggest that after the study, a national self-exclusion register will be created based on the United Kingdom’s gambling regulations. This system is used to keep watch over problem gamblers. There are several topics that will be under review based on the online gambling industry which includes advertising and marketing campaigns. Sports groups, members of parliament and anti-gambling groups have voiced their concern as to how advertising for sports betting has reached what they are calling excessive levels.
Overseas gambling operators are considered a major issue in Australia as online gambling facilities are being run by such operators. The IGA has a prohibition on offerings if they are served remotely from abroad. This means the services and products from such operators are considered illegal. Such operators are not paying dues and fees that should go to the government which can then be used for the country. Since the offshore operators are running illegally, they do not pay the fees like standard operators do.
Nick Xenophon, is a Senator of South Australia who is firmly opposed to online gambling. The senator has reportedly begun to draft proposed amendments that will include prohibition of in-play betting. Amendments have been created that will prohibit bookmakers from offering certain perks to players as well as providing gambling advertisements at sporting events. The senator believes the review will give the government the opportunity to take stock in the online gambling increase including all areas.
From a different point of view, the Australian Wagering Council believes that in-play betting prohibition laws should be modified. Instead of creating a distinction between betting online and betting with a landline telephone, in-play betting restrictions should be put in place. The restrictions could be based on the type of betting as well as conditions put in place by the state, territory or the national sports regulatory body.
Overall, some type of change is coming to online casino, sports and overall gambling in Australia. It will be interesting to see what the study finds and how it will affect gamblers in the area.
