Australia launches clampdown on USD 1.4B online bookies industry

The Turnbull Government, in negotiation with the states, will also establish a self-exclusion register for online gambling and a voluntary precommitment scheme to limit bets.

Recommendations made in review of illegal offshore wagering were endorsed by state and territory ministers yesterday in a bid to help curb issues arising from online gambling.

Human Services Minister Alan Tudge said that the agreement was an important milestone.

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The rate of problem gambling in the online space is three times higher than elsewhere and online gambling is growing by 15 per cent per annum, he said

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“This means that the problems of the future are all coming from online punting unless we have better protections in place.

The review, headed by former NSW premier Barry O’Farrell, revealed online wagering was growing at 15 per cent a year — the fastest growing gambling segment in Australia — with more than $1.4 billion bet online last year.

It found that current consumer protections were weak and “considerably below” best practice.

Mr Tudge said a national self-exclusion register would be particularly important to help people who know they are starting to get themselves into trouble.

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With one click, they will be able to self-exclude from all online gambling providers, Mr Tudge said

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The Victorian MP has advocated the prohibition of credit betting ever since an unemployed constituent of his was provided $80,000 in credit and almost lost his house.

As well the Federal Government is also considering asking internet service providers to block illegal websites or payment blocking.

Senate powerbroker Nick Xenophon has been calling for a prohibition on lines of credit for years, last year introducing legislation which would have also included a national self-exclusion register.

The ministerial also acknowledged the need to crack down on illegal offshore gambling providers by placing company directors of illegal offshore companies on an immigration watch list and bans “click-to-call” apps used by betting companies.