Aussie regulator has a wait-and-see attitude to in-play betting row

The Australian row over whether a computer microphone that is switched makes in-play betting via the internet legal (see previous reports) produced an interesting “wait-and-see” response this week from the Northern Territory Racing Commission, which acts as regulator for some of the companies using the ploy.

Approached by The Australian newspaper for comment on the controversy, which has seen the national communications regulator bring in the Australian federal police to establish the legality or otherwise of the practice, the NTRC said it had considered the William Hill Click to Call app and taken legal advice before approving it.

The Commission noted that it had covered itself by warning William Hill that if it ran into trouble over the Interactive Gambling Act it was on them, and that there was no legal precedent for the circumstances.

So what happens if the Australian judicial system ultimately decides the microphone loophole is not enough to get around the IGA?

Well, the Commission covered itself there, too, saying that in that event it would conduct a review on the licensee’s suitability to hold a licence.

All of which could take a long time….