Australian senators in favor of online poker

Two senators are sponsoring a measure today that seeks the investigation of online poker impediments in the territory.

Australia.- After Australia’s federal parliament confirmed on March the decision made by the Senate to ban online poker and live sports betting in the country, Senator for New South Wales representing the Liberal Democratic Party, David Leyonhjelm, and convervative Senator for South Australia, Cory Bernardi, decided to sponsor a measure in the upper house of the parliament.

The decision wants to bring the prohibition of online poker to an inquiry, as 9news.com.au confirmed. “It’s prohibited. The stupid government has made it virtually impossible to play poker online,” said Senator Leyonhjelm in Canberra, who confirmed that people were concerned over the fact that the recent amendments to the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001 were intended to prohibit the gambling activity.

The bill that prohibits Australians from playing online poker faced some changes in February after Leyonhjelm introduced an amendment called Sheet 8054, which aimed to modify the proposal and insert casino-style poker or blackjack gambling services in different stances of the bill to make it possible for online poker players to keep gambling in the country. Despite his attempt, the amendment wanted to close loopholes that allowed online gambling to continue operating.

During the last week of March, the official claimed that the ban would push gamblers to untrustworthy overseas agencies, as well as bring more people to the illegal market. Australia is currently the biggest gambling nation, Global Betting and Gaming Consultants affirmed that the society per capita spends approximately US$866 per year. “As a result thousands of Australians who play poker for fun, can’t play it online, or they won’t once the bill takes effect. It’s insane,” he added.