Media Release
Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Digital Productivity
Release of the Interim Report – Review of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, has today released his Department's interim report into the review of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA) for public consultation.
The review into the IGA by the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy is the first since 2004.
The review proposes a number of changes to the IGA, including:
- Introducing a national standard for harm minimisation and consumer protection;
- Strengthening enforcement and deterrence measures against overseas unlicensed online gambling providers;
- Increasing awareness among consumers about the risks of using unlicensed gambling providers;
- Establishing a trial of online tournament poker in Australia, subject to a strict regulatory framework and a requirement that participating providers cease providing higher risk gambling services to Australians, like online slot machines;
- Prohibiting micro-betting (such as ball-by-ball bets in cricket or point-by-point bets in tennis) across all platforms; and
- Requiring that any form of 'in-the-run' wagering, on any platform, be approved by the relevant state regulator and the national sports governing body.
"This is an interim report only. The Government has made no decisions about possible changes to the IGA and will not do so until we have had further public consultation with interested parties."
In preparing the interim report, the Department has engaged closely with community and counselling organisations, states and territories, sporting organisations, gambling organisations, financial institutions, broadcasters and gambling researchers. They have also considered submissions from the general public.
"I encourage anyone with an interest in this issue to carefully consider the Department's interim report and provide their feedback," Senator Conroy said.
A copy of the interim report can be found at www.dbcde.gov.au/igareview
Public submissions to the interim report, and any queries relating to it, should be sent to online.gambling@dbcde.gov.au by 25 June 2012.
Date: 29 May 2012
Contact: Adam Sims 0408 258 457
