Insight


COVID-19 UPDATE - ASIA Australia


because they are attractive to new gamblers and children.


It also proposes that ACMA is granted further enforcement powers. However, the Bill in unlikely to be heard for a long time due to other more important matters and we would expect that further research would need to be undertaken and understood in relation to “social” casino games, before any regulatory approach is taken.


POST-COVID OUTLOOK KEY ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST RELAXING IGA PROHIBITIONS


Te key arguments which support relaxing the IGA prohibitions and permitting online casino gaming include:


l


operators would contribute towards responsible gambling initiatives that help prevent and minimise gambling related harm;


l


Additional gambling taxation revenue would be accrued to bolster government budget position in a deteriorating fiscal environment;


l


Australian residents currently using illegal offshore casino sites (or those who use them just during lockdown) would have a safer and highly regulated alternative, with responsible gambling


obligations and stringent consumer protections.


To sponsor innovation while ensuring rigorous monitoring and evaluation of potential new products, a ‘regulatory sandbox’ environment with considered eligibility criteria and controlled environment, would assist evidence informed policy decisions.


A key counter-argument is that any online offering that further increases gambling accessibility risks aggravating gambling-related harm particularly for vulnerable members of the community and might accelerate socialisation of young people with gambling.


An advantage of online account-based activity is the rich data around client profiles and behaviour and capacity to ‘red flag’ potential indicators of problematic gambling behaviour or suspicious interactions.


In weighing up the arguments for and against the restrictions, now appears to be the ideal time for government to consider the issue more broadly in respect of periods of great uncertainty, for the benefit of both venues and the customer, but at the same time being mindful of ensuring more sophisticated monitoring and interventions to prevent and minimise problematic gambling behaviour and associated harms.


A key counter-argument is that any online offering that further increases gambling accessibility risks aggravating gambling- related harm particularly for vulnerable members of the community and might accelerate socialisation of young people with gambling. An advantage of online account-based activity is the rich data around client profiles and behaviour and capacity to ‘red flag’ potential indicators of problematic gambling behaviour or suspicious interactions.


NEWSWIRE / INTERACTIVE / MARKET DATA P65


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