The government of New South Wales, Australia has begun the process of updating its gaming laws, which are due to expire in September 2022. It has asked for public comments.
The updated Betting and Racing Regulation and Totalizator Regulation will include new provisions on minimizing harm to consumers, such as counseling services and penalty notice prescriptions.
CEO Anthony Keon of Hospitality and Racing, which oversees gaming, said the changes are necessary to keep the law up-to-date to a rapidly evolving industry.
He told Asia Gaming Brief: “A large proportion of the community derive great pleasure from wagering and enjoy placing a bet without it becoming a problem,” adding, “The protections in the Regulations not only create sustainability for the industry, but certainty for the community that licensees are fit to conduct gambling, that penalties are fair and proportionate and that there is communication and engagement with people who do experience gambling harms.”
He said the purpose of setting standards on betting services is “so punters can freely pursue wagering as a safe form of leisure and entertainment.”
The update will propose new penalties as an alternative to court prosecutions. They will ban offers of free entry into a competition that is conditional on having a betting account.
Keon added, “With this consultation, we are looking to capture the interests of all stakeholders to ensure a thriving wagering industry can also operate in the community’s interests.”
