Australians politicians want stricter gambling laws and regulations

Senator Nick Xenophon and Tasmanian independent MP Andrew Wilkie demand tighter regulation on Australia’s gambling industry.

Australia.- Senator Nick Xenophon and Tasmanian independent MP Andrew Wilkie are demanding tighter regulation on the country’s gambling industry, as the gambling habits of its citizens is an increasing cause for concern.

Currently there are five times more slot machines in the country, per capita, than there are in the US. Furthermore, recent studies have shown that Australians spend more per head on gambling than any other country in the world, twice as much as in the US and three times as much as in the UK.

“We will be planning a whole series of measures, both in the parliament and outside the parliament, to deal with the issue of gambling reform and, in particular, one issue that has resonated throughout the community and that is on the issue of sports betting advertising,” said Xenophon in parliament this week. “So many parents have approached all of us to say they are appalled their kids are talking about … the odds of a game rather than the game itself.”

“The case is compelling, and it is very, very sad that up until now, parliamentarians have not seemed to care enough about the hurt caused by problem gambling; that parliamentarians have been happy to be completely out of step with the vast majority of the members of the community who want strong reform,” added Wilkie.