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The Labour Party in Tasmania has not yet established an opinion on whether it should support the mandatory pre-commitment scheme for poker machines unveiled by the state Government, with one frontbencher being unsure how to answer certain questions that have been asked about it. At a press conference that took place in Launceston on September 19th, Member of Parliament Janie Finlay faced questions on whether the Labour Party backed the card-based scheme of the Government that would see the users of so-called pokies set betting limits before they start gambling.…

An increasing number of parents seem to be planning to make a submission to a federal parliamentary inquiry into the Australian online gambling sector and the harmful impacts it has on vulnerable people, such as children and problem gamblers. The nationwide parliamentary inquiry was announced on September 15th and would involve issues such as loot boxes and advertising on live sports betting services. As Casino Guardian reported, the probe into present regulations of the Australian online gambling industry is set to be heard by Peta Murphy MP, the chair of…

A nationwide parliamentary inquiry focused on people hooked on online gambling will involve issues such as advertising of live sports betting services and so-called loot boxes available in video games. A probe into online gambling and its impact on gambling addicts, as well as underage individuals, will be heard by the chair of the standing committee on social policy in the lower house of Parliament, Peta Murphy MP, who has previously shared with her colleagues that she is willing to further crack down on gambling advertising during sports events. She…

The Government of Tasmania announced a special, “nation-leading” pre-commitment scheme that would make sure local residents will be prevented from spending over AU$5,000 a year on pokies unless they file an application to increase their limit. The new cashless card, which is expected to be officially implemented in the state by the end of 2024, will be mandatory. It will feature default poker machine spending limits of AU$100 per day and $500 per month but players will be allowed to adjust these limits upwards or downwards. However, the authorities said…

The Premier of New South Wales (NSW) has warned The Star casino in Sydney that it could be forced to close in two weeks in case the gambling operator does not comply with a court order to provide a detailed explanation of why its services should not be ceased. Dominic Perrottet warned the Australian gambling giant about the possible consequences for the Sydney-based gambling venue only a day after the damning inquiry into the company unveiled it as unsuitable to operate its casino there. Mr Perrottet explained that The Star…

The Government of New Zealand is being urged to prevent Lotto from offering their gambling products to children to buy. For the time being, the only age limit on the games offered by the Lotto is an R-18 restriction on Instant Kiwi. As revealed by research held by the director of the Gambling and Addictions Research Centre at Auckland University of Technology – Maria Bellringer – underage individuals are currently able to purchase Lotto tickets, as well as Keno and Bullseye. Ms Bellringer studied the gambling habits of almost 900…

Racing businesses across the UK have been expecting to get more details regarding the assistance they are set to receive from the country’s Government as a measure aimed at helping them to reduce the negative financial effect of constantly rising energy bills. According to reports, racecourse owners have been preparing themselves for a rough period, especially in the winter, because of the increase in energy prices. In August, the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) – the trade body representing the British gambling industry – shared that the sector needed urgent…

A long-awaited change in the oversight and control of the Irish gambling sector has finally happened this week. A senior civil servant has been appointed to the role of the first-ever gambling regulator in the country. Anne Marie Caulfield was chosen as a chief executive officer representing the Gambling Regulatory Authority in Ireland as a result of an open competition for the position. In the period from 2008 to 2016, Ms Caulfield headed the Residential Tenancies Board and was responsible for the execution of several briefs while being part of…

Political life in the UK has been shaken hard by the turbulence associated with the resignation of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and a number of crucial figures in his Cabinet in July. A month and a half later, Liz Truss has taken over as Prime Minister but, sadly, the beginning of a new era in the country’s political life does not mean a new era for the local gambling sector is to start anytime soon. In fact, market experts believe that a gambling reform in the UK could be…

A reputable gambling researcher has called for the Queensland Government to make it mandatory for local gamblers to impose some spending limits on so-called pokies, praising the measure as a powerful tool to reduce gambling-related harm. The head of the gambling and social determinants unit of the school of public health and preventive medicine at Monash University, Charles Livingstone, explained that a requirement for poker machine players to preset such limits should be implemented across the clubs’ and pubs’ pokies in Queensland. Currently, there are more than 40,000 poker machines…