In 2016, the national government of Australia approved legislation to reform gaming, aiming to address several gaps in its regulatory framework. These included prohibiting internet poker and live wagering on athletic contests.
Since November 2016, this alteration had been undergoing examination within the Australian Senate.
Human Services Minister Alan Tudge presented the Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill 2016 in November of that year. The legislation stemmed from the 2015 Review of Illegal Offshore Wagering, which suggested that the federal government bolster its legal framework concerning internet gambling.
The modifications to Australia’s gaming regulations ignited significant discourse. Numerous conservative legislators advocated for a firmer position and limitations on internet gambling due to the increasing quantity of distant gaming providers targeting Australian customers.
Nevertheless, Liberal Democrat Senator David Leyonhjelm conveyed to the Huffington Post Australia, “This is absurd. Ample avenues already exist to engage in poker within Australia, such as casinos and competitions, should that be your desire. It’s not as if there’s a shortage of individuals engaging in poker presently; they’re merely prohibiting it online. The entire world operates online now.”
Leyonhjelm stated that the Australian online poker community had been utilizing gaps in the law and asserted that the alterations to the legislation were superfluous and unproductive. He appended, “The initial 2001 law intended to prevent numerous youths from gambling online, but it failed to achieve that due to its loopholes.”
Its absurd to believe this legislation will genuinely prevent individuals from wagering,” Lionel Yarme remarked. “If an individual desires to place a bet on a match, they will discover a method, even utilizing a VPN or an overseas account.”
Yarme further highlighted that while the legislation aspires to diminish game manipulation by prohibiting in-play sports betting, it could inadvertently yield the contrary outcome. “In Britain, the government generates substantial revenue annually by taxing authorized sports betting platforms,” he elaborated. “These platforms possess the capacity to observe betting patterns and identify any dubious actions, which aids in deterring match-fixing.”
Numerous prominent gambling entities, including 888poker and Vera&John, have already withdrawn from the Australian market in anticipation of the law’s enactment. Pokerstars is projected to follow suit soon. These operators have declared their unwillingness to function within an “illicit or unregulated market,” and it is foreseen that the majority of other gambling firms will shortly emulate their course of action.
During Amaya’s recent financial results conference, CFO Daniel Sebag informed investors that the company is also contemplating exiting the Australian market. “We are presently evaluating the relevance of the proposed legislation to our player-versus-player games of skill,” he stated. “In its current form, we might restrict Australian players from participating if the legislation is ratified.”