The upper chamber of Australia’s parliament delivered a significant setback to numerous citizens by approving a comprehensive prohibition on internet gambling, disregarding widespread disapproval from Australian gamblers.
This recently enacted legislation, formally known as the Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill of 2016, revises a prior statute from 2001 and arises directly from a 2015 governmental investigation into the effects of unregulated overseas wagering. The investigation had highlighted apprehensions regarding the ease of access to these platforms, particularly for susceptible persons.
In a broad action, the new legislation effectively outlaws all virtual casinos and poker websites throughout Australia. The prohibition is scheduled to take effect within a month. However, internet service providers, responsible for implementing the blockage of unlicensed operators, are not anticipated to execute the block for a certain period, as per reports from local news sources.
Just seven days before the bill’s passage in the House of Representatives, the Senate’s Environment and Communications References Committee conducted a public forum entitled “Australians Engaging in Online Poker.” This forum provided a stage for local internet poker enthusiasts and other interested parties who fervently advocated for an exemption for poker from the ban. They presented data indicating that poker, unlike other forms of gambling, entails a substantial degree of skill and merits distinct consideration.
The forum offered an opportunity for poker players and others to express their viewpoints and relay their encounters, directly inquiring about their stance on banning online poker and the rationale behind it.
Senator Leyonhjelm, a strong supporter of internet poker, has consistently maintained that it merits distinct consideration from traditional casino offerings. He posits that its foundation in skill differentiates it from games of pure chance, thereby exempting it from sweeping prohibitions. Rather than outright bans, the senator has championed a regulatory structure that would establish a regulated online poker market within Australia, encompassing consumer safeguards and generating tax income.
Nevertheless, his appeals appear to have gone unheeded, as numerous operators opted to withdraw from the Australian market proactively in anticipation of impending legislation. Industry giants such as PokerStars, 888poker, 32red, and Gaming Innovation Group ceased providing services to Australian users, effectively retreating from the Australian online poker landscape.
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