Andrew Wilkie’s precommitment scheme seeks to help gamblers who may become addicted to playing land-based pokies. However, a recent report in Crickey.com.au, points out that pokie reform will simply push players into the online gambling world. It is a point that has yet to be brought up in the debate over pokie reform, which has been raging for the past year or so.
The internet is a hotbed for gambling activity, with billions of dollars being pumped into the online gambling market every year. It is interesting to think that politicians have not thought about this alternative before. If pokie reform is enacted, players who wish to continue to play their heart’s content can simply do so online.
In the internet gambling market, there is nothing stopping them from spending however much they wish on the games of their choice. Even without pokie reform, more and more Australian players are making the move into the digital market to play online pokies. If anything, it is an indication that the local government should be looking into online gambling regulation rather than implementing poker machine reform.