Full steam ahead for Aussie interactive gambling review

An appeal made by the Australian Wagering Council (AWC) earlier this week on behalf of Australian online corporate bookmakers calls for the legalisation of in-play betting to limit Australians betting off-shore with unlicensed operators.

The submission, which forms part of the Federal Government’s review of the interactive gambling act, claims over 50 percent of the A$2.9 billion that would be wagered by Australians in 2015 would be done offshore along with A$100 million worth of taxes and lost fees due to racing and sports bodies, says the Australian Financial Review.

“Banning in-play wagering online while allowing it in other ways is unrealistic and does not respond to changes in how consumers bet and what they choose to bet on,” AWC chief executive Ian Fletcher commented.

In the submission, the AWC pushes for a national gaming law and a national regulatory body who would additionally oversee consumer protection and problem gambling standards including an operator-funded national self-exclusion scheme.

Former New South Wales Premier Barry O’Farrell, who leads the review, is expected to deliver his report to the government by December 18, 2015.