The Commonwealth government of Australia is attempting to strengthen control over internet gambling. In 2016, they enacted the Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill, aiming to address gaps that permitted activities like internet poker and live wagering to go unchecked.
This process, however, was not without its challenges. Within the government itself, considerable discussion arose. Certain lawmakers, especially those with more traditional viewpoints, strongly supported restricting online gambling. Their rationale? Numerous international businesses were focusing on Australians, which they perceived as an issue requiring a solution.
Others were less enthusiastic. Senator David Leyonhjelm, affiliated with the Liberal Democrats, deemed the entire endeavor “foolish.” He highlighted that Australians already possessed ample avenues for playing poker, such as physical casinos and organized competitions. His contention was that the government wasn’t prohibiting poker entirely, merely its online counterpart, which appeared illogical in an increasingly digitized world.
Leyonhjelm maintained that the Australian online poker community was already adept at circumventing existing regulations, making the amendments seem like a poor use of resources. He argued that the initial 2001 legislation, intended to safeguard minors from online gambling, was already riddled with flaws and had not proven effective in the first place.
Its illogical that individuals can still wager on the internet if they utilize a virtual private network or possess an overseas account,” one detractor declared. “This legislation simply lacks logic.”
The statute also prohibits real-time sports wagering in an effort to limit game manipulation. Nevertheless, Lionel Yelum, a gaming regulation specialist, asserts these modifications will actually yield the contrary outcome. “In Britain, we possess licensed in-play betting companies who are taxed by the authorities. They generated hundreds of millions of pounds in revenue last year. They can also examine wagering trends to detect questionable behavior and potentially signal rigged contests, tracking the movement of funds.”
Numerous providers, including 888poker and Vera&John, have already withdrawn from the Australian marketplace. Pokerstars, a prominent figure in the sector, is anticipated to follow. These providers have indicated their unwillingness to operate within an “underground or unregulated” setting. It’s highly probable that the majority of other gaming enterprises will soon emulate their actions.
During Amaya’s third-quarter earnings conference, their CFO, Daniel Sebag, notified stakeholders that the corporation is also contemplating an Australian departure. “We presently provide poker in Australia,” he remarked, “and we are evaluating the relevance of the proposed legislation to player-versus-player skill-based games. In its current form, should the legislation be enacted, we would likely restrict players from Australia from participating.”
