We also need a ‘seatbelt’ for the most dangerous gambling products, to stop catastrophic losses when people lose control. Australia must get serious about preventing gambling harm and implement a package of reforms to make gambling less pervasive and safer. Pokies and online betting are particularly addictive and harmful, leading to serious harm for hundreds of thousands of Australians. State and territory laws complement the federal framework by regulating authorised online gambling services within their jurisdictions.
- Most other regulations at best aim to slow the rate at which people lose money.
- Organised attempts to influence policy can create windfall gains for a few, at the expense of the many.
- Employees in low risk areas of the casino (e.g. food and beverage and cleaning) are not required to be licensed.
- In other countries, high-impact, high-loss ‘Australian-style’ machines are typically confined to casinos.11 But in Australia, they are pockmarked across our suburbs and towns, increasing the risk of harm.
Pokies ‘basically on every corner’7
Investors were spooked by a financial performance that revealed an operation haemorrhaging cash with little prospect of an immediate improvement. Star Entertainment Group’s shares bombed on Friday, losing close to half their already heavily discounted value, after the company narrowly avoided collapse, securing a last-minute $200 million bailout from its bankers. Strip away the huge money-laundering operation from mainland Chinese-based criminal gangs, and the business model upon which Australia’s two big casino groups has been built suddenly is under threat. That annoying little slogan tacked on to the end of every broadcast gambling advertisement, as a warning to those with an addiction, has come back to bite casino owners and investors. The penalties for organising an unlawful lottery include 50 penalty units and/or 12 month imprisonment for a first offence, or 100 penalty units and/or 2 years imprisonment for a second or subsequent offence.
Are Online Casinos Legal in Australia?
This recent history makes Tasmania’s current pokies reforms all the more remarkable (see Box 6 in Chapter 3). Gambling is considered a heavily regulated industry in Australia, but current regulations are not particularly effective in reducing harm, let alone preventing it. It difficult to stop.107 And any value of these campaigns as a reminder is drowned out by the torrent of gambling advertising. The individualistic approach is promoted by the gambling industry.105 Blaming problems on a small group of ‘aberrant’ individuals absolves the industry of responsibility, and diminishes the case for stronger action by governments. In many communities in NSW, particularly poorer communities, it’s difficult to find a venue that doesn’t have pokies (Figure 1.4).
The cards are designed to identify problem gamblers and to more easily enforce money-laundering rules. Under section 15 of the Act it is an offence for a person to intentionally provide a prohibited interactive gambling service with an Australian-customer link. This offence carries a maximum penalty of 5000 penalty units, applicable each day the unlawful service is provided. Overseas-based online casinos that target Australian residents are explicitly prohibited under the IGA, with significant civil penalties attached.
After decades of failed attempts, some state governments, notably Tasmania, are finally taking action on pokies. A phased approach would https://tom-boi.com/ give sporting bodies and broadcasters time to find replacement revenue.191 Despite alarmist claims, this would not be a fatal blow to either (Chapter 4). Governments have a responsibility to act in the public interest, even when it is politically challenging. Gambling is big business, and the industry has repeatedly used its political power to thwart efforts to better protect the public. Gambling companies and peak bodies apply pressure to our politicians through every avenue to protect their profits.
Most jurisdictions focus their regulation on the authorisation of providers for online and offline betting and lottery services. You can complain to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) if you find believe an online website is offering illegal gambling services. But if they did, they would imply that some Australians must suffer immense harm so that others can pay a little less for sport, or punt a little more seamlessly.