Australia Bans Online Gambling

[imported_Tommy]

I posted this up in the news section, but here is the link. This really sucks for gambling affiliates both living in AU or driving a lot of AU traffic.

It should be interesting to see how this one shakes out.

[mojo]

They are banning by isp and fining sites!

On this list surprisingly were only online poker sites. These included PokerStars, Full Tilt, Pacific Poker, BetFair, PokerNews and many more.

I am a little confused on this. Austrailia is only banning Poker sites?

[sipka]

This is ridiculous.
I have heard the same for the Philippines.
Sad times.

[Mark]

I am a little confused on this. Austrailia is only banning Poker sites?

They originally drafted the laws to ban sites related to child pornography, but now it's being reported that they are including other sites along with that, such as certain gay and lesbian related sites and online gambling sites. It should be interesting once the full list comes out to see what they included.

Another example of government abusing their original intent.

Mark

[Hazo]

When I said 'only' i meant for online gambling, only poker sites have been listed.

[faststeady]

i think its all based on inaccurate information and scare mongering

[Hazo]

i think its all based on inaccurate information and scare mongering

I agree

[AceHigh Pino]

i think its all based on inaccurate information and scare mongering

It's a whole lot of bullshit either way

[TheGooner]

my understanding of the situation.

Australians love to gamble. Sports betting, horse betting both online and offline are legal when the establishment is licensed (either within Australia or overseas based).

Online casinos, and pubs are also allowed to run "pokies" (slot machines) . Recently (within the last decade) these "pokies" have shown up a significant social issue behind the addictive behaviour patterns of small duration betting - also called micro-event betting.

So the online betting of "micro events", like casino slots, blackjack or poker online has been declared illegal for Australian residents for some period of time (perhaps 5 years back?) - but it's never really been persued with overseas companies.

However, it is on the law books, and so locally licensed gambling companies and poker sites are careful to exclude Australians from "micro-events". This caused some problems for Betfair - which allows players from most countries to bet on live sports games - but Betfair has created a special class of Australian account which excludes Australian punters from live betting on in-running events.

----

So unlike the US which considers Sports betting a specified illegal activity online - Australia is OK with that. It's the small duration betting events that are under the microscope ... hence the focus on poker sites etc.

(at least that's what I think is happening)

[faststeady]

spot on gooner

our online sports books have only just been allowed to advertise in the mainstream, full page newspaper ads, even some of our AFL teams now have bookie logo's on their jumpers and are sponsored by them. One of our main metro racecourses is now called Betfair Park (formally sandown)

the only real restriction is online casinos/poker rooms that are based in australia are not allowed to accept aussie players nor advertise directly to them

in the past year i have noticed a few casinos like littlewoods, 888 etc actual change their rules and ban aussie players, however you can still join and bet sports at 888. this is the same for betfair, can't play in the casino, but can play poker and obv bet sports.

on other note goon, aussie can bet in play on sports and in running on races, but not over the internet , we have to ring these bets through. i quite often pick off soft in play lines on the tennis etc , but have to go through the phone.

cheers