A panel established by Clubs Australia is to develop new rules for the responsible provision of free-to-play gaming apps on social media.
Australians spend almost $60m each year on social media gaming applications that mimic real gambling games but offer no prize money, research has indicated. However, there is concern that the games currently available also allow credit betting and are potentially accessible by children.
The panel is to investigate all aspects of social gaming, developing a code of practice to ensure that any social gaming meets the same harm-minimisation standards that apply in club venues.
Clubs Australia executive director Anthony Ball said the recent review of Australia’s Interactive Gambling Act had failed to establish safeguards and standards for social gaming apps.
“Clubs have long been at the forefront of providing safe, enjoyable land-based gambling in a responsible manner and we’ve long called for similar standards to be applied to online gambling and these social gaming apps,” said Ball.
“The guidelines that our expert working group develop will provide a policy for clubs to abide by if they consider entering the social media space in the future, and make sure that clubs continue to be leaders when it comes to the responsible conduct of gaming.”
The expert working party will include representatives from the Clubs Gaming Advisory Committee, online gambling experts and gaming manufacturers.
