Australia could ease online poker restrictions

After the online gambling ban was approved by the Australian authorities, Senator David Leyonhjelm continued to lobby behind the scenes, engaging in negotiations with Communications Minister Mitch Fifield. 

On Tuesday, the senator's office announced a "victory for online poker."

"Senator David Leyonhjelm has received a letter from Communications Minister Mitch Fifield advising that he has instructed his Department to undertake some preliminary work examining the feasibility of Australian onshore providers obtaining licences to operate online poker," they announced.

"The AOPA is extremely pleased that the Minister is looking into the feasibility of a safe, regulated online poker market in Australia," said AOPA founder Joseph Del Duca.

“

“

The poker community should be very proud of getting things to this point.

”

"As a community all we ever wanted was to be heard. We saw hundreds of ordinary Australians make submissions to the online poker inquiry and we are pleased that the government is listening to these players and taking this matter seriously".

Any reforms would be contingent on Minister Fifield obtaining partyroom approval, but Senator Leyonhjelm said he understood Human Services Minister Alan Tudge was open to the changes.