The Australian government has imposed some very strict laws on the country’s gambling market. According to the Interactive Gambling Act, many different forms of gambling are restricted, and companies based in Australia are prohibited from offering them. One such activity is in-game sportsbetting, and Australian betting firms are looking to have this ban lifted.
In-game sportsbetting is one of the most popular betting activities for gambling firms. Demonstrated during the 2010 World Cup, punters enjoy being able to place wagers on sporting events while games are taking place. It adds more excitement to the experience and presents greater chances to win better cash prizes. Unfortunately, gambling firms that are regulated by Australia’s Interactive Gambling Act are not allowed to offer this activity.
As a result, Australian players turn to offshore online gambling websites in order to place their in-game bets, causing companies like TabCorp and Betfair to lose out on a great deal of revenue. Since these companies are regulated by the Australian government, a portion of their profits are donated to community initiatives.
So, these organizations are forced to lose out on valuable funding that could be contributed from the profits of in-game sportsbetting. Legalizing the activity would also mean that it would be brought into a regulated market. Players would no longer be susceptible to the dangers of playing at unregulated gambling websites.