Sides continue to weigh in with their opinions on the future of online gaming in Australia.
Parliament began a six-week recess last week after legislation to permanently ban online gambling in Australia was introduced. The legislation was tabled as the May 19 deadline of the country’s yearlong moratorium online gaming nears.
Opponents of the permanent ban are hoping there is still time left to salvage the industry, but they admit that possibility is slim.
In response to the federal government’s proposed ban on Internet gambling the Northern Territory Department of Industries and Business released a revised version of "Australia: Uniformed Standards for the Regulation of Interactive Gaming" (the AUS Model), in early April.
The AUS Model is targeted to be a guideline for the government if it chooses to regulate the industry instead of ban it.
The model is an update to the DRM (Draft Regulatory Control Model) for New Forms of Interactive Home Gambling which has been the guide for all of State and Territory laws governing the industry in Australia since 1997. Although some regulators and politicians have joined operators in pushing against a permanent ban, they realize an uphill battle awaits them.
"It is a desperate measure," one industry insider said referring to the model. "But desperate times call for desperate measures."
Unfortunately for operators and players the high standards that the DRM help set in place for the last three plus years will be all for naught. Under the government’s plan, operators will be allowed to continue accepting bets, but only from players outside of Australia. Australians will still be allowed to visit online casinos, but only those of the offshore variety. The irony, of course, is that while Australian online casino operators will be held to a higher standard in comparison to their offshore counterparts, Australian residents won't be able to take comfort by visiting a site they know is safe.
The AUS Model calls for player protection measures on sites which include warnings and links about risks associated with gaming, game fairness, restrictions on games and the length they are played, restrictions on total loses during a session. In addition the model calls for stiffer licensing controls.
But one industry insider, who has ties to both Australia and the U.K., said both the AUS Model and the government’s attempts are futile.
"They both don’t make any sense," he said. "The government banning reputable locals is stupid. The new AUS model has too many restrictions."
The moratorium will expire May 19, the parliament will be back in session in early May and the future of Internet gambling is expected to be high on their list when they return. If an agreement isn’t reached by the time the moratorium is up, the government could seek a temporary extension.
Request for Comment
Comment is invited from any interested member of the community or industry on the proposed requirements contained in the AUS Model or on any aspect of the regulation of interactive gaming.
Submissions are to be made in writing and sent to
Review of the Regulation of Interactive Gaming
Northern Territory Department of Industries and Business
GPO Box 4160
Darwin NT 0801
Or e-mail tony.clark@nt.gov.au
(Phone: 08 8999 1332)
The closing date for submissions is 2 May 2001.
Click here to view the Interactive Gambling Bill 2001.
Click here to view the explanatory memorandum.
Sides continue to weigh in with their opinions on the future of online gaming in Australia.
Parliament began a six-week recess last week after legislation to permanently ban online gambling in Australia was introduced. The legislation was tabled as the May 19 deadline of the country’s yearlong moratorium online gaming nears.
Opponents of the permanent ban are hoping there is still time left to salvage the industry, but they admit that possibility is slim.
In response to the federal government’s proposed ban on Internet gambling the Northern Territory Department of Industries and Business released a revised version of "Australia: Uniformed Standards for the Regulation of Interactive Gaming" (the AUS Model), in early April.
The AUS Model is targeted to be a guideline for the government if its chooses to regulate the industry instead of ban it.
The model is an update to the DRM (Draft Regulatory Control Model) for New Forms of Interactive Home Gambling which has been the guide for all of State and Territory laws governing the industry in Australia since 1997. Although some regulators and politicians have joined operators in pushing against a permanent ban, they realize an uphill battle awaits them.
"It is a desperate measure," one industry insider said referring to the model. "But desperate times call for desperate measures."
Unfortunately for operators and players the high standards that the DRM help set in place for the last three plus years will be all for naught. Under the government’s plan, operators will be allowed to continue accepting bets, but only from players outside of Australia. Australians will still be allowed to visit online casinos, but only those of the offshore variety. The irony, of course, is that while Australian online casino operators will be held to a higher standard in comparison to their offshore counterparts, Australian residents won't be able to take comfort by visiting a site they know is safe.
The AUS Model calls for player protection measures on sites which include warnings and links about risks associated with gaming, game fairness, restrictions on games and the length they are played, restrictions on total loses during a session. In addition the model calls for stiffer licensing controls.
But one industry insider, who has ties to both Australia and the U.K., said both the AUS Model and the government’s attempts are futile.
"They both don’t make any sense," he said. "The government banning reputable locals is stupid. The new AUS model has too many restrictions."
The moratorium will expire May 19, the parliament will be back in session in early May and the future of Internet gambling is expected to be high on their list when they return. If an agreement isn’t reached by the time the moratorium is up, the government could seek a temporary extension.
Request for Comment
Comment is invited from any interested member of the community or industry on the proposed requirements contained in the AUS Model or on any aspect of the regulation of interactive gaming.
Submissions are to be made in writing and sent to
Review of the Regulation of Interactive Gaming
Northern Territory Department of Industries and Business
GPO Box 4160
Darwin NT 0801
Or e-mail tony.clark@nt.gov.au
(Phone: 08 8999 1332)
The closing date for submissions is 2 May 2001.
Click here to view the Interactive Gambling Bill 2001.
Click here to view the explanatory memorandum.