The inquiry will also look at how effective advertising restrictions are at preventing children from being exposed to gambling products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Australia.- The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs has launched\u00a0an inquiry into online gambling<\/strong>\u00a0and its impact on people with gambling problems. According to a media release from the Parliament of Australia, the committee is taking written submissions by\u00a0November 11<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Peta Murphy MP<\/strong>, chair of the committee, said: “the inquiry will be a fresh look at online gambling and whether current laws, regulations, consumer protections and education and support programs are enough to reduce harm to gamblers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “The Committee is concerned about the increasing reach of online gambling platforms into Australians\u2019 lives, the exposure of children and young people to gambling advertising and how this may contribute to increases in problem gambling in the future.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The committee said it will examine how to better target programs to address online problem gambling to reduce the potential exploitation of at-risk people and protect individuals, families and communities. It will also analyse the\u00a0quality of and access to online gambling education programmes<\/strong>\u00a0and the appropriateness of gambling regulations in light of emerging technologies, payment options and products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The gaming industry remains under close scrutiny in Australia, with\u00a0Adam Bell SC\u2019s report into The Star Entertainment<\/a>\u00a0having concluded that the operator is not suitable to operate casinos in New South Wales. Meanwhile, the\u00a0Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre<\/strong>\u00a0(AUSTRAC) has commenced an\u00a0investigation into Entain Group Pty Ltd<\/a> to probe whether the company has complied with its obligations under the\u00a0AML\/CTF Act<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A study by\u00a0Monash University\u2019s Gambling and Social Determinants Unit <\/strong>showed that\u00a0Australians lost more than AU$11.4bn (US$7.74bn)\u00a0<\/strong>on slots, or poker machines, in pubs and clubs across five states last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August,\u00a0the Victorian Government<\/strong>\u00a0introduced 12 more measures from the 33 recommendations made by\u00a0Judge Raymond Finkelstein<\/strong>, who led the state of\u00a0Victoria\u2019s inquiry into Crown Resorts<\/a>. Meanwhile, the parliament of New South Wales has approved the Casino Legislation Amendment Bill 2022. <\/p>\n\n\n\n