Will Australia Commission Overturn Ban on Gambling?

Recently, we have read about European countries overturning bans on online casino gambling, while others have decided to readdress the issue. Just the other day, it was reported that Australia may be headed in the same direction.

In 2001, the Interactive Gambling Act was passed by the government of Australia, making it "illegal for companies to offer online gambling in Australia." Curiously, however, this act did not explicitly ban Aussies from playing on gambling sites like Liberty Slots Casino or Bovada Casino and those who do, have no worries about being prosecuted.

Thus, the Australian Commission drafted a 600-page study encompassing over 200 organizations. The recommendation made by the commission, based on this study, was as follows: "The Australian Government should repeal the Interactive Gambling Act, and in consultation with state and territory governments, should initiate a process for the managed liberalization of online gaming." Although this is just a recommendation at this point, it does seem to carry significant weight with those who can make the ultimate decision.

Not surprisingly, this report met with opposition, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Those who criticized the report offered their own solution: introduce a system whereby online gamblers can only wager up to a specific amount per month.

As this debate continues, we will all wait with anticipation to see if the Australian Commission overturns the IGA. We will post any new developments here.