Live-betting a very controversial gambling service, as Australian gaming laws prohibit sportsbooks from offering players the ability to bet on games while they are taking place. New betting operator Crown Bet will respect these laws by refusing to offer live-betting services until Australia’s gambling laws have been reviewed.

Crown Bet will not have to wait very long, as Scott Morrison, Social Services Minister, has announced that he will be heading a review of the Interactive Gambling Act (IGA). Industry experts believe that the bill fails to address all of the changes that have occurred in the online gambling world within the past decade.

This new comes shortly after international operators William Hill and Bet365 were called out for finding a loophole in the law against live-betting. These two operators allow users to place live wagers online so long as the microphone on their computer or smart phone has been turned on. This qualifies the bet as a phone wager, but responsible gambling advocates are not convinced.

As such, Crown Bet executives are willing to wait until a review on current gambling laws has been carried out. This way, the sportsbook can be absolutely sure that its live-betting service adheres to local gambling laws. “I think some of the policies in the IGA do need a review,” Crown Bet CEO Matthew Tripp.

“I've had the same in-play betting system as William Hill and Bet 365 since the end of 2014 but have chosen not to roll it out until I could get some verification from Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and the federal police. In light of the review, I won't be rolling it out until that process is complete.” There is no word when the review will be completed.

We anticipate that it will be quite a long, comprehensive process, and will keep you updated as it progresses.

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.