The government on Thursday announced it would adopt 18 of 19 recommendations of the O’Farrell review into illegal offshore betting, including banning online betting agencies that offer lines of credit.
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Attenborough said: “Online betting on live sport is an illegal form of wagering in Australia; it is pleasing that the government has removed any doubt about its legality, addressing the activity of those wagering operators who have been circumventing the law”. This includes banning credit betting which accounts for nearly one-third of some gambling operators’ sales, as well as proposed fines and travel restrictions for offenders, and possibly even ISP and payment blocking measures.
However, some brands are bypassing the system with a loophole by which they use voice-over-internet protocol (VOIP) technology to operate systems that allow punters to place bets by clicking a button and confirming the wager with an automated phone call.
“Our overall message is that we already have enough problem gambling in Australia without opening up opportunities for people to gamble on literally every moment – every kick, every ball of every match in the country from your living room, late at night without any protections”. “The government will therefore introduce legislation to clarify the Act as soon as possible”.
But Minister for Human Services Alan Tudge told Tom Elliott you can still bet during games via phone call. In the meantime, the government’s move has attracted criticism from those who see it as a way of protecting home-grown gambling companies, such as Tabcorp and Tatts Group, from unwanted competition.
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Tudge said major sporting codes such as Tennis Australia needed to be more responsible rather than just taking gambling dollars at any opportunity.
