Under new laws that come into effect today, punters in Australia will no longer be able to place bets online using their credit cards.
The new laws include cards linked to digital wallets and digital currencies such as Bitcoin.
Responsible Wagering Australia welcomed the news, having worked with the Commonwealth Government to deliver this ban since 2021.
“This is an important measure to protect customers, making it easier for people to stay in control of their own gambling behaviour,” said Responsible Wagering Australia CEO Kai Cantwell.
“It will complement the existing offering of safer gambling account management tools by RWA members.
“RWA and its members support the extension of this measure to all forms of gambling that have been exempted from the ban such as lotteries and keno.”
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said that further changes would be announced by the government in due course.
“Australians should not be gambling with money they do not have,” Rowland told The Australian. “Last year, the Albanese Labor government committed to banning credit cards for online wagering – and we’ve delivered.
“This ban builds on the significant progress to minimise gambling harm that the Albanese government has made over the past two years which is already benefiting thousands of vulnerable Australians.”
