Australian-based gambling operators are beginning to feel the effect of online gaming. With more residents choosing to play pokies and place bets online rather than visiting pokie clubs and betting shops, local operators want the Australian government to do more to restrict offshore gaming firms.

TabCorp is the latest company to have taken up this cause, calling on the federal government to impose stricter regulations on offshore casino operators. This week, TabCorp announced that its profits have declined by 63% over the course of the past year.

The company blames offshore gambling for the decline in profits, as an increasing number of Australian residents are choosing to wager on their favourite sports using unregulated gambling websites that are based in offshore locations. “An offshore operator should not be allowed to take an Australian resident bet,” TabCorp CEO David Attenborough said in an interview with Business Day.

''Some countries around the world have dealt with this by just making it illegal for an [offshore] gambling company or operator to take bets from their citizens”. Attenborough would like to see the Australian government take a similar approach to the way in which France has regulated online gambling. The country has banned all offshore operators from offering their services to local residents.

The only companies that are permitted to do so must obtain a license from the French gambling regulator, ARJEL. As online gambling becomes increasingly popular, many countries are taking this approach. Offshore betting sites are easily accessible, and they offer steep competition for local operators like TabCorp and SportingBet.

As such, locally-based gaming operators want the federal government to step in and impose stricter rules against operating the country. Not all gaming industry professionals are on board, however. Prohibiting offshore operators can be seen as enacting a monopoly on the local gambling market. Around the world, this sort of legislation has not been well-received. So, the federal government must tread lightly if this route is taken.

About the Author

George Anderson
Author George, has over 25+ years’ experience in the Pokies and Casinos industry throughout Australia and New Zealand. Loves to research new Pokies games on the block and follows announcements from top industry providers about their upcoming releases. As soon as a new interesting pokie game appears on his radar, George is there to check it out and give you the scoop before anyone else and tell you about all casino sites where can play the latest game. Before this gig, George worked as Pokie game tester, making him an ideal candidate for this genre of work. He is also an animal lover and a proud owner of three dogs.