Australian gambling laws prohibit locally-based sportsbook operators from providing certain services to punters while international operators are able to circumvent these restrictions. As such, local bookmakers have called on federal government to tighten the reins on offshore gambling firms.
The major point of contention regards in-play betting, as the Australian Gambling Act prohibits punters from placing online bets on games once play has commenced. Local operators are permitted to offer the service over the phone while online sportsbooks that provide international services can accept in-play bets from overseas punters.
As a result of this inequity, local bookmakers feel as though they cannot compete with international operators. “[This] once again shows the Interactive Gambling Act does nothing to control betting on Australian sport and only serves to put licensed Australian wagering operators at a competitive disadvantage,” says Cormac Barry, CEO of Sportsbet.
Last year, gaming industry professionals reviewed the Gambling Act and it was suggested that the stipulation prohibiting online in-game betting should be removed. However, the Gillard government did not follow through with the recommendation, stating that no changes would be made to the act until all states across Australia have agreed upon gambling harm minimisation measures.
Local gaming operators are disappointed that the government has not acted on the recommendation, and they are concerned that lack of regulation in the market could lead to corruption. Local sports have certainly seen their fair share of match-fixing, and it is important for the government to implement rules that fight it.
By enforcing stricter regulations on international gaming operators, federal politicians could help defend the integrity of local sports leagues – but it does not seem as though anything will be done in the near future.
About the Author
