Sydney -- The legalization and regulation of online gambling in
Queensland, Australia isn't going to come easy. Australia's recent
Internet and interactive gambling legislation could be thwarted by
difficulties in inter-governmental relations.
Inconsistent policies between the various jurisdictions may make the
recently passed Queensland legislation impossible to implement, a top
rated policy advisor and researcher mentioned.
"Gaming authorities are addressing the interactive gambling issues at a
state level, yet telecommunications technology, banking and financial
matters, and agreements with other nations fall under the Constitutional
power of the Commonwealth," said Professor Jan McMillen, director of the
Australian Institute for Gambling Research, University of Western Sydney
Macarthur.
"This is a serious concern facing the pro-active gaming regulators who
are trying to provide a comprehensive framework for the regulation of
interactive gambling on a state and national level," he continued.
In a landmark decision, the Queensland government recently passed
legislation as the first initiative to control interactive gambling.
The aim of the Interactive Gambling (Player Protection) Bill, as
announced by Treasurer Joan Sheldon last month, is to regulate this new
form of technology at a state level, followed by a national co-operative
approach.
From the public interest perspective, it's also important to minimize
the social and economic harm for the community's benefit.
According to McMillen, the question is whether the Australian
inter-governmental agreement will hold up on a national level. "If
Australia's international reputation as an effective regulator is to be
maintained, the states and territories must work together to develop
effective common standards and policies," he said. "We also have to
grapple with the potential of the technology. Even though we don't know
the socio-economic effects and integrity of the products that we're
dealing with, we need to deal, now, with these types of issues."
The Australian Institute of Criminology and Australian Institute of
Gambling Research are bringing together key government advisers,
experienced researchers, the industry and the community to explore the
regulation of interactive gambling and its implications.
Dr. Adam Graycar, Director of the Australian Institute of Criminology,
explained that betting on the internet is already popular, judging by
the number of sites available and the prolific advertising of virtual
casinos. "We're only at the tip of the iceberg," Graycar said.
IDC, for instance, says that we're now in the second wave of the
internet. While it's estimated that $200 million will be spent this year
electronically, a combination of confidence and an increase in online
access should result in $2 billion to be spent annually by the year 2002
via e-commerce.
"The aim of our conference is to collaboratively address the criminal,
social, regulatory and commercial issues of interactive gambling and
start moving towards improving the solutions," Graycar said. "To try to
prohibit interactive gambling is to deny reality."
The conference, titled "Gambling, Technology & Society: Regulatory
challenges of the 21st Century" will be held May 7-8 at the Rex Hotel,
Potts Point Sydney.
"I hope that this conference will draw attention to the fact that
Australia has positioned itself as a leader in addressing the issue of
gambling, technology, and society," McMillen said.
It appears that this new form of gaming delivery is going to be
impossible to restrict in the same way that we controlled and regulated
site-specific gambling. For some operators who are able to position themselves
strategically, it provides a global opportunity. New technology,
however, has the potential to both expand the market overall and
cannibalize existing gambling markets.
For further information contact Peter Grabosky at the Australian
Institute of Criminology on (02) 6260 9226 or Richard Woolley at the
Australian Institute for Gambling Research on (02) 9772 6274.