While on an economic junket in Australia, Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval signed a memorandum of understanding to study the effects of online gaming on consumer behavior.
Also signing the memorandum were UNLV International Gaming Institute Director Bo Bernhard and the University of Sydney’s Alex Blaszczynski.
“As our state takes leadership of the emerging interactive gaming industry, it is important that this new segment of gaming be as accountable and regulated as the traditional gaming industry is in Nevada,” Sandoval said in a statement.
Sandoval last year signed into law a measure establishing a framework through which eventual legalization of interactive online gaming could occur in Nevada.
While in Sydney, Sandoval attended the opening of the new Scientific Games headquarters.
In addition to studying online gambling behavior, Australian officials want to become the first nation to regulate the Bitcoin market via measures designed to thwart money laundering and financing of terrorism.
Officials for AUSTRAC, which is Australia’s financial intelligence agency, say the anonymous nature of the online Bitcoin market and other forms of digital currency make them highly attractive to terrorist-linked organizations.
A 2014 AUSTRAC Terrorism Financing in Australia report indicates online, electronic, and emerging digital payment methods are likely to attract individuals and groups involved in financing terrorist activities and attacks.
Prepaid travel cash cards are another popular tool for funding international terrorism, the report states.
