News has been trickling in that Australia is considering liberalizing its online gambling laws. This would mean increased consumer protection for Australian players as well as a broader range of gaming options. The interim report also hints at including various online sports betting options which are currently only available over the mobile or in person. This comes as a huge step in the direction of liberalizing online gambling laws in the country that currently lack clarity.
Online Gambling in Australia Today
The world witnessed an increasing popularity of online gaming sometime around the mid-1990s. Australia was quick to respond to this growing popularity.
In order to regulate online gambling, an Australian Interactive Gambling Act was formulated in 2001. As per this Act, it was illegal for the companies to offer online gaming services to those logging in from Australia. Advertising online gambling services were also prohibited in the country.
Contrasting to this, it was not illegal for Australians to gamble online. This meant that a person within Australia could log in to an international site if he wished to gamble online.
This Act had other exceptions as well. It did prohibit overseas operators from entering Australia, but local players who had obtained the license prior to the ban were allowed to function. In addition to this, it also prohibited new operators from entering the market.
Going with the exception, this Act did not include sports betting activities over the internet.
Changing times
There were times when countries remained secluded and uninfluenced by what was happening beyond their borders. Times have changed massively, and with the coming of the internet, it is becoming increasingly difficult, in fact impossible, to stay within ones boundaries. Keeping with the pace of the world, Australia has decided to relook into its gambling laws and the Australian Interactive Gambling Act is up for review.
Despite the strict gambling laws prevailing in the country, it has been increasingly observed that Australians do participate in online gambling. A BBC report in the year 2007 revealed that a record 80 percent of Australians took part in gambling as a recreational activity. Revenues also support this report which shows a regular increase in the amount spent by Australians on overseas gambling sites.
Under such conditions, it cannot be said that a check has been placed on online gambling activities in the country. It rather makes sense to liberalize laws and maintain a watch on all such activities. Taking into consideration the current scene of gambling activities in the country, the interim report has made recommendations to officially legalize online gambling in Australia. This will help better regulate online gambling activities within the country. As the same time, it will ensure that the huge sums spent on overseas gambling sites can be retained within the country, resulting in huge benefits for the government.
Gambling laws in Australia currently do not criminalize gambling over the internet, neither do they cover betting in sports. If you are in Australia, you do have options to explore without going into the illegal zone. But, if rules are liberalized, there will be greater options and increased consumer protection making gambling all the more fun.