New research has shown that Australia is falling behind jurisdictions not only in Europe but in other parts of the world when it comes to the regulation of online gambling. The revelations emerged at a time when local supporters of the proposed gambling reform are urging the Federal Government to bring in online gambling regulation as quickly as possible.
A recent analysis provided by the Alliance for Gambling Reform showed that Australia remains far behind a large number of European countries, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Spain, and Italy, in tackling online gambling and gambling advertising.
For example, in 2021 the German Government officially banned online casinos, poker and online slot operations from being advertised on TV, radio and digital channels from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Furthermore, the country has also unveiled a €1,000 mandatory deposit limit a month that applies to all legal forms of gambling.
A parliamentary inquiry into online gambling and the harms associated with it is expected to table its report on the matter in the weeks to come. Peta Murphy, who chairs the committee, has previously noted that the final report of the inquiry would take into consideration the measures taken by other jurisdictions across the world to reduce gambling-related harm.
Australia Needs Adequate Online Gambling and Gambling Advertising Regulations
Carol Bennett, the chief executive officer of the Alliance for Gambling Reform, shared that the Australian reform aimed at online gambling, advertising and products targeting underage individuals has so far been characterised by only partially efficient measures over a prolonged period of time. Ms Bennett shared that now is a crucial time for such changes to be brought into action across Australia, because local communities are really “screaming out for some change” regarding gambling services and advertising.
The Alliance for Gambling Reform’s boss believes that the measures that are being implemented by the Federal Government of Australia were way overdue and the country needs to catch up with similar actions of other jurisdictions across the world.
After forming a Government in 2022, the Labour Party has unveiled BetShop – a self-exclusion service that could be used by Australians to ban themselves from gambling should they believe they have a problem controlling their gambling – as well as a ban on the use of credit cards for online gambling transactions. The Labour Government also announced a new M15+ classification for games featuring so-called loot boxes. Unfortunately, none of these measures have been so far brought into action.
As revealed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) in Senate estimates about a week ago, the launch of the country’s self-exclusion scheme had been delayed from the end of March 2023 after the company that was supposed to deliver the BetStop system went into voluntary administration. Currently, the regulatory body is negotiating a new agreement with another company to pick up the rest of the project. The ACMA noted that once the project is completed, the BetStop system should be brought into action.
Apart from that, Ms Bennett said she remained hopeful that the completion of the online gambling inquiry would eventually result in the development of a national strategy to finally close some loopholes and regulatory gaps in the existing gambling legislation of the country and address various issues associated with gambling-related harm. The CEO of the Alliance for Gambling Reform explained that the lack of regulation means gambling companies were uncontrollably targeting young people with gambling-like games, such as online pokies, grooming them for more serious forms of gambling and causing more and more harm to young gamblers and their families.
- Author
Olivia Cole
