Aussie offshore gambling review gathers pace

Having heard proposals from Clubs Australia earlier today (see previous reports), Australian offshore gambling review chairman Barry O’Farrell listened as Facebook, Google and Twitter, under the Digital Industry Group (DIG) umbrella association, weighed in on the workability of blocking illicit websites and cutting off access to payment processors.

“We consider there to be fundamental flaws and significant practical difficulties with any attempts to filter the Internet such that it may not be possible to automatically block content,” DIG told O’Farrell. “Who would determine whether a service is illegal and would entire websites be blocked if there are both legal and illegal services on the website?”.

DIG went on to suggest that Australia shouldn’t be looking to the digital industry to solve its problems but rather strengthen its existing laws and enforcement.

The Australian Bankers Association share DIG’s assessment saying in its submission to the review: “Technology would be incomplete and haphazard as it would only apply to direct electronic funds transfers, not payments made via proprietary networks or alternative payment methods. The ABA does not support intervention in the banking and payments system as an effective way to regulate online wagering and gambling.”

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