South Australian government bans betting in eSports

Gambling on computer and video gaming competitions will be banned in South Australia, following an attempt to legalise such activity.

Australia.- Governments across the nation have been approached to legitimise betting on eSports. So far the Northern Territory is the only jurisdiction which allows such gambling to take place. The provincial government is concerned that underage players might be vulnerable and persuaded to get into gambling.

Consumer and Business Affairs Minister John Rau said he advised the Independent Gambling Authority to reject betting on computer gaming sporting events. “Children are particularly vulnerable to the attraction of gambling on sporting contests conducted on the platform of video games,” Rau said.

The Minister said that the government is determined to keep children “cyber-safe”, stating that they don’t want them to be introduced to gambling under the guise of a game.

The Government said there was little research available on the potential dangers of this form of gambling, but it would continue to encourage the use of educational games as opposed to those that promoted betting.