Australia shuts down Norfolk Island Gaming Authority

Australia’s government plans to dismantle the Norfolk Island Gaming Authority amid fears it is open to fraud and corruption.

Australia.- Following a review by Centium Group that stated that the Island could be open to corruption, the country’s federal government will shut down the Norfolk Island’s gaming authority. The Norfolk Island Gaming Authority had previously issued an important number of licenses to companies that operate in Australia and UK’s Ladbrokes.

The review said that it was likely that the internal controls were defective and that it could lead to fraud and corruption. Centium Group also stated that the gaming authority was more concerned about revenue that doing its work as a regulator.

Fiona Nash, Local Government and Territories Minister, said: “Centium’s report made it abundantly clear that the authority is beyond redemption. Gambling in Australia must be carefully regulated to ensure the integrity of our sport and to protect consumers.” The Minister agreed with Centium’s recommendation of not letting the Norfolk Island Gaming Authority to continue to operate in its current form.

According to the government, operators with licenses from the gaming authority will have time until late March 2017 to get licenses in a different jurisdiction. Earlier this year the Minister for Territories Paul Fletcher forbid the authority from issuing more online gambling licenses without the ministry’s approval, and asked Centium to review the authority’s operations.