Fighting “exploitation”
Australian Social Services Minister Christian Porter says he will honor his campaign commitment to review the country’s gaming policy by the appointed deadline in December.
Speaking to the Australian, he said the review “addresses the government’s policy objective to investigate methods for strengthening protections against illegal online wagering operators and ensuring Australians are not exploited.”
Recommendations are due December 18, but that deadline may be hard to meet as lawmakers and other stakeholders weigh in. Among the interested parties is Stephen Ferguson of the Australian Hotels Association, who told the publication, “The terms of reference specify wagering, not gaming, but there is a blanket call saying that anything else you want to submit on, please do. Our intention is to address gaming as well because we see the problems are basically the same in terms of levels of harm. We think expanding the review would be in line with what the government had said it would do, as part of its gambling review, at the election.”
And Clubs Australia Executive Director Anthony Ball is targeting illegal offshore betting sites. “These sites put roulette wheels, games of black jack and poker and slots on the mobile phones and iPads of Australians of all ages,” he said. “They are basically unregulated, unsafe and untaxed. They contribute nothing of social or economic benefit to this country and have little or no harm-minimization measures in place. The law makes it illegal for offshore companies to offer these online services to Australians, whether they be casinos or wagering sites, and it should be enforced.”
