BetFair Tries to Repeal Online Ban in Australia
Author: Chris // Category: Online Casino News The Australian government is checking out the current situation with online casino gambling in a consideration of repealing the ban of online casino sites. This would change the ban on gambling which was imposed by the 2001 Gambling Act. Casinos such as BetFair are suggestion the change in the ban because the laws are unenforceable and they are causing many local companies to go offshore.
“It is illegal to offer online poker to Australian residents, but that hasn’t prevented several large international operators from creating an enormous customer base here – assisted by promotional activities using high profile Australians and cross-selling through ‘play for free’ sites. It is estimated that more than A$300 million is bet by Australians annually on online poker – and it’s a figure that is rapidly growing.”
“All revenues flow directly offshore without any tax being paid in Australia. Furthermore, players are gambling in a largely unregulated environment, with little protection offered to players in terms of fraud, security or harm minimisation. The ban on offering interactive gaming to Australians has had very little effect on curtailing the enormous growth of that sector of the market in Australia.
Betfair is merely trying to gain some organizational structure in the process. “Betfair advocates an approach based on regulation, rather than attempts to prohibit the activity. Only through regulation can effective player protection initiatives be enforced in the online environment.”
“Because there is no law against someone in Australia betting online in-play on sport (the prohibition is directed solely at the operator) there is a large incentive for Australians to bet with these overseas operators. As a result, licensed Australian wagering operators are permanently losing the business of punters who are lured to these sites by offering in-play sports betting online. This means that transactions are not regulated in Australia, there is no requirement to place appropriate social harm minimisation measures in place and no taxes or product fees are returned to governments or sporting bodies.”
