The operators of Alice Springs-based Lasseters online casino, the first excursion of a land-based casino into the virtual gaming industry, had a few words to say last week about the recently issued National Gambling Impact Study Commission report. Looking beyond the obvious faults in the NGISC's recommendations for domestic policy, Lasseters pointed out the existence of another minute overlooked detail: The rest of the freakin' world.
Lasseters issued a news release criticizing the Commission for failing to recognize action taken in foreign jurisdictions to regulated online gaming.
Executive Manger David Ohlson, perhaps looking to join CEO Peter Bridge on the U.S. government's "uninvited" list, knocked the Commission for focusing on prohibition to counter illegal online gaming rather than investigating how education and regulation can control the industry. "Without exception, all of the Commission's concerns regarding underage access, unlimited wagering, problem gamblers and criminal use, are addressed within the legislation in place in Australia," Ohlson said.
"The Fact is, the Internet is not going away and neither will illegal online gaming irrespective of the financial controls being proposed in the U.S.," he added. "Advocating for prohibition of all new licenses will only give the unregulated sites greater power and may limit the ability of regulated online gaming operators to offer a responsible and safe alternative."
Ohlson emphasized that as more online gaming sites are licensed by Australian governments, the focus should be on educating players to recognize regulated sites.
Lasseters also offered responses to specific issues in the report. The are as follows:
- Verifying the identity of registrants.
Lasseters Online conducts background checks to verify the identity of all players and if these checks do not prove their age is over 18, the player account is automatically closed.
- Access by problem gamblers.
Players on Lasseters Online are initially restricted from depositing more than $500 per month to their playing account and can only wager with this deposit and any winnings they may accumulate. This will restrict players from over committing themselves.
In addition, Lasseters is advocating for online gaming operators to cooperate in developing a national register of problem gamblers so that all can help control their access to sites.
Online counseling services are offered for problem gamblers. Also, a self exclusion button enables players who feel they have a gambling problem to take a seven day break. If they use this button three times, then they are excluded from registering for life.
- Criminal use.
With Lasseters Online, there is a complete audit trail of deposits by and payouts to players and their wagers which is monitored by the Northern Territory Racing and Gaming Authority. This type of financial control and recording is a disincentive for money laundering.
- Operators physically relocating sites or tampering with gaming software.
The daily operation of Lasseters Online is closely monitored by the Northern Territory Racing and Gaming Authority and no changes can be made to the site or its software without the approval of the Authority.
- Ability of players to accumulate large debts on credit cards.
With Lasseters Online, credit cards are used to open playing accounts only and a restricted deposit of $500 per month initially applies. Players can only wager with this deposit and any winnings they may accumulate so potential losses are limited.
Players with cards providing an approved credit limit are controlled in the amount they can deposit by this credit limit. Players with cards which rely on holders paying out the monthly balance are restricted by the $500 deposit limit.