Analysis: Net gambling next on ISP filter hitlist?

Wagering service providers Betfair, Betchoice and the Australian Internet Bookmakers Association (AIBA) also made submissions to the inquiry, which was conducted by the Senate Community Affairs Committee.

The Committee was tasked with the inquiry on 24 June and was expected to report by 2 September. However, it said this week that it was "unable to provide a comprehensive report at this time".

The AIBA highlighted the Act's distinction between online wagering and 'internet gaming', which included simulated casino games and poker machines.

"There is a different risk profile for each form of gambling," the AIBA wrote. "For wagering, the internet is merely a communication channel."

It argued that ISP-level blocking of international gaming sites was unfeasible, and payment blocking was difficult to implement.

Online poker sites UltimateBet, Absolute Poker, PartyPoker, PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker were among 2602 links appearing on ACMA's 11 March 2009 blacklist, according to whistleblower site WikiLeaks.

But prohibition of online gaming was not the appropriate policy response, the AIBA wrote.

"The Act [IGA] has been worse than useless ... the Act is unenforceable internationally, and so operators outside of Australia have ignored it.

"The sensible response is to regulate online gaming," the ABIA wrote. "Australians would then at least have the option of playing with online sites under Australian responsible gambling controls."

Compared to offline gambling, the internet offered "a number of advantages in the delivery of responsible gambling strategies", including access to betting history and counselling information, the ABIA wrote.

The association also highlighted the potentials of "pre-commitment" facilities that would allow players to set deposit and loss limits that would remain in place for a specified period.

Pre-commitment was also touted by smartcard technology vendor Regis Controls which, in its parliamentary submission, stated that a smartcard could identify, authenticate and monitor players both on and offline.

Using Regis technology, players would be required to apply for a smartcard with proof of age and identity.

Each player would be issued with a daily, fortnightly or monthly gambling limit following processes similar to a credit check, and in accordance with Government-established guidelines.

"The cards would need to be the only method for anyone to access online or interactive television or mobile phone gambling provider sites, including betting shops and pokies machines," the company wrote.

Julia Gillard, leader of the Australian Labor Party, yesterday made headway into forming a minority Government by promising to implement pre-commitment technology on every Australian Poker Machine by 2014.

In a separate parliamentary submission, the Gambling and Public Health Alliance International recommended that the existing Act be scrutinised and amended from a global perspective.

"Interactive and online gambling is a global activity provided by global businesses, some of which seek to avoid consumer protection obligations, in the pursuit of 'easy money'," the alliance wrote.

"This concern is not unique to Australia, and needs to be addressed through international cooperation.

"The Alliance believes that Australia, along with New Zealand, is well placed at government level to provide leadership in seeking international policies and protocols associated with online and interactive gambling."

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