The Australian government is planning to tighten restrictions on offshore operators that offer online gambling services in Australia, the Guardian reports.
Communications minister Mitch Fifield introduced the Interactive Gambling Amendment bill 2016, which will target the practice of “click to call” live betting.
Click-to-call avoids existing restrictions on in-play betting online by simulating a phone call - a permitted exception under existing laws.
Quoted in the Guardian, human services minister Alan Tudge said: “Currently hundreds of illegal gambling services are easily accessible on the internet and we know that people are more likely to get into trouble online – 2.7 per cent of interactive gamblers are problem gamblers compared to 0.9 per cent of all gamblers.
“We expect online wagering providers to meet community expectations. The tougher laws will seriously disrupt illegal offshore providers from acting unscrupulously or targeting vulnerable Australians.”
