Australia reduces iGaming services
The Australian government would ban credits for local players at online gaming platforms.
Australia.- As part of a national crackdown on the gaming industry, the government of Australia is debating another regulation to limit iGaming services. Under the new bill, financial credits would be prohibited for local players at online gaming platforms, including casino and sports betting sites.
“Importantly (it) bans the online gambling companies from offering lines of credit to their customers which gets people into so much trouble, having already depleted their savings account,” Human Services Minister Alan Tudge told ABC Radio, as quoted by 9news.com.au. Australian legislators have been holding several meetings to discuss the amendment, which could be finally approved today. The legislation would address local operations as well as off-shore online gaming offerings.
Australia’s continuous regulation changes have scared away many operators such as 888, Vera&John and 32Red but that doesn’t seem to affect the legislators’ will to make new adaptations. Tudge has headed several proposals against land-based and online gaming services. Legislators are also assessing the possibility of banning ISPs to shutdown illegal operations.
The government has introduced 11 measures that include creating a national self-exclusion register. Licensed operators will be required to inform gamblers about their activity in order to help them track their spending. The government would require financial institutions to refuse transactions involving unlicensed online gambling (including offshore activity). ISPs blocking it is likely to be resisted by advocates of net neutrality as they promote an open use of the internet.
