Some concerning news from Down Under: The Australian Senate has passed the Gambling Amendment Bill which essentially bans all online casino activities in the country, and goes into effect this September. There has been an ongoing debate concerning the status of online poker and casino players for quite some time and just when it seemed like there was a lifeline for the Australian industry, this bill was introduced as a means of protecting the most vulnerable players.
The same bill was already passed by Australia’s House of Representatives earlier this year. It all started in November 2016, when Alan Tudge, Australia’s Minister of Human Services, proposed an act that would outlaw even the offshore online gambling sites. The bill came to rise after numerous shouts from its proponents claiming that gambling addiction in the country has started to take its toll. It will still be legal to play on offshore gambling sites, but operators are no longer permitted to offer their online poker services and could face enormous fines if they continue to do so – even up to $5 million in fees for each day service continues.
As early as January of this year, major online poker operators, like PokerStars and 888Poker have either announced they will leave the market or have already left it – the latter were the first to cease online poker activities and more operators will surely follow suit.
During his speech at the beginning of this year, Mitch Fifield, Federal Communications Minister, commented that “overseas operators have been freely offering their services to Australians” due to the “ambiguous law” that allows no licensed operators in Australia. “Whilst I appreciate that this is not welcomed by those individuals who have been using these services, it is a fact that online poker has always been a prohibited service under the act. It is not something that this bill is enacting. Whether online poker should be legal in Australia or not is a separate debate.” he added, commenting on the current law.
There were opposing views, arguing for the fact that poker is not so much a luck-related type of gambling as much as it mostly relies on skills and, hence, poses no threat to players. It looks like online poker is on its way out down under. What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments below.
Source:
"Poker, online casinos officially banned in Australia“, Jones Lars, worldcasinodirectory.com, August 09, 2017.
Vanenhox
6 years ago
Sr. Member
Prohibition does not work. If people want to do something badly enough they will do it whether or not the government approves. There must be other ways for Australia to address the social ill of problem gamblers. Talk about throwing the baby out with the bath water.
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Tweeksta
6 years ago
Super Hero
people on unemployment benefit in australia get fortnightly cash payment sent directly into their bank account which they can then use to spend in any way they like.. which im guessing alot would be spent on gambling. at least this law will stop all that from happening
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keza
7 years ago
Full Member
Is there anything else the government wants to takeaway from the people of Australia? it's like saying, well, if we ain't getting a share of what the players give to offshore gambling counterparts then lets just chuck in some laws and put a stop to money going anywhere but Australia. Seriously guttered but can understand,...
Is there anything else the government wants to takeaway from the people of Australia? it's like saying, well, if we ain't getting a share of what the players give to offshore gambling counterparts then lets just chuck in some laws and put a stop to money going anywhere but Australia. Seriously guttered but can understand, gonna miss you microgaming and netent.
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norman222
7 years ago
Sr. Newbie
This is just ridiculous, and especially when it comes to poker. For slots I would understand, but in poker it is upon your skills to actually win or lose, not upon luck only. Ban also enterpreneurship. If you have to invest money and then it is upon your skills to actually make profit.... What is the difference?
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jcollins101785
7 years ago
Sr. Newbie
i read a lot about this lately and kind of expected this to come. Austrailia has lots of regulations on gambling and would noy surprise me if other countries follow suit and permanently ban poker as well as other unregulated gaming
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Sydney
7 years ago
Almighty Member
Online poker is not the most popular form of online gambling in Australia, but there are still many Australians who are engaged in this type of gambling. I don't think this amendment bill will help to reduce the number of online poker gamblers; it will rather force them to use other sites, including potentially less reputable...
Online poker is not the most popular form of online gambling in Australia, but there are still many Australians who are engaged in this type of gambling. I don't think this amendment bill will help to reduce the number of online poker gamblers; it will rather force them to use other sites, including potentially less reputable operators.
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Mil E Na
7 years ago
Full Member
This is really sad news for online poker players from Australia. I agree that gambling addiction is a serious thing, but there must be some better ways of reducing the number of addicts... A restriction for all is just wrong...
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