In Australia, former New South Wales Premier Barry O’Farrell is leading a review of the country’s Interactive Gambling Act, which was enacted in 2001 and which many consider outdated. O’Farrell’s report, due by the end of the year, includes a review of the nation’s online betting framework and could impact legislative changes next year by updating national laws and regulations based on advances in technology and the sports betting industry.
However, Independent MP Andrew Wilkie, a gambling reform advocate, commented, “The current government inquiry into online gambling, including sports betting, is a sham seeing as three of the four terms of reference are only to do with protecting Australian online gambling businesses from their overseas competitors.”
Currently Australians are not restricted regarding online betting. Besides accepting sports bets from Australians, several international online venues also offer casino, poker and bingo games. Some, however, do not offer sports betting to Australian wagerers.
According to a November 2014 report from the Australian Gambling Research Center, sports betting is the only form of gambling that has grown in Australia over the past decade. The report states the growth has occurred along with “extensive promotion of sports betting during live and televised sport,” plus internet, social media and mobile platform promotions. The report notes the growth of online gambling is partly responsible for the rise in sports betting, half of which now occurs online. In addition, commercial arrangements between bookmakers and sports entities, in particular the National Rugby League and Australian Football League, also have led to an increase in sports betting.
As a result, the New South Wales Office of Liquor Gaming and Racing is keeping a close watch on broadcast and internet promotions for sports betting. An OLGR spokesman said, “OLGR has advised one company that its promotion is suspected of being in breach of NSW’s Racing Administration Regulation 2012 by offering inducements to gamble and failing to exclude NSW residents. The company will be provided with an opportunity to respond prior to a final decision on regulatory action being taken.”
The publication Ebiquity noted in 2012 more than 3,000 individual advertisements for sports betting were presented over all media except social media, including 528 ads shown more than 20,000 times over free-to-air TV. The value of advertising for sports betting increased four times between 2010 and 2012.
The Australian Gambling Research Center report concluded, “Research into the effects of sports-embedded gambling promotions is in its infancy. Early research suggests that it is increasing gambling participation, gambling problems and the normalization of gambling among adults, adolescents and children.” However, the Australian Wagering Council pointed out a more recent study by Gambling Research Australia indicated a causal relationship between exposure to gambling advertising and problem gambling cannot be determined.
Meanwhile, next month the Australian online betting operator SportsBet will spend $1.15 million to promote its new “Take a Break” campaign, designed to raise awareness of problem gambling, addiction and other risks associated with online betting. The campaign promotes SportsBet’s self-exclusion system that allows players to stop themselves temporarily from gambling.
