Isle of Man e-gaming was the lead sponsor in the Gaming, Racing and Wagering Australia 2012 conference which starts today at Sydney’s Sofitel Wentworth Hotel.
Over 120 delegates attended the start of the three-day programme of seminars, which overlaps today and tomorrow, with the three-day Australasian Gaming Expo at the nearby Sydney Exhibition Centre.
IoM e-gaming’s Ray Davies and a team from the island were on hand to hear the opening of the first day’s events at the conference which reviewed the current state of the Australian gambling market, especially the reform measures currently so much in the public eye.
They heard delegates report that the current reforms did not take enough cognisance of the advent of global online gambling.
The Australian authorities were currently keen to curb the growth of gambling in casinos, clubs and pubs without due recognition of internet gambling’s impact. One delegate reported that current figures suggested global internet gambling was enjoying revenues of US$30bn, of which Australia was responsible for $1bn and that there are now over 1,000 websites.
Ross Ferrar, CEO of the Australian Gaming Technologies Association, commented: “All of that $1bn is leaving Australia, which cannot be good and now that we have Facebook and other social media becoming involved the potential is infinitely higher.”
The conference was also to discuss other key issues such as responsible gambling and Australia’s gambling research agenda, the upcoming review of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001; gaming’s role in Australian tourism, the emergence of integrated resorts and casinos, understanding Asian player preference and other issues on regulation, and new technology.
