Australia seeks to ban cyber-gambling

The Opposition says the ban would make Australia look like a backwater

In this story: World's leading gambling nation Firms can continue operation overseas RELATED STORIES, SITES

CANBERRA, Australia -- Australia's conservative government has said it will seek to prohibit betting on the Internet, via interactive television and mobile phones.

Communications Minister Richard Alston said laws would soon be introduced to bar gaming and wagering services offered over the Internet, including electronic poker machines, casino games, sport betting and lotteries.

The opposition Labor party said a ban would just make Australia look technologically inept. Casino operators said Australian betters can access to a worldwide proliferation of interactive sites.

World's leading gambling nation

Official reports show that 80 per cent of Australians gamble at least once a year, 40 per cent regularly.

The nation of 19 million people is home to one in five of the world's poker machines.

"Australia's status as one of the world's leading gambling nations demands that we take decisive action to protect the most vulnerable in our community," Communications Minister Richard Alston said in a statement.

A government-backed 12-month freeze on new Internet gaming services is due to end on May 19.

But the opposition Labor party thinks a ban is inappropriate.

"The message the [government] is sending to the world is that we are . . . an IT backwater, prohibiting content because the government has no idea how to implement a workable policy that protects those most at risk without encumbering Internet development," shadow youth affairs minister Kate Lundy said.

Firms can continue operation overseas

The legislative ban would not stop Australian firms from offering interactive gaming services overseas.

"Instead, the legislation will place the onus on gambling service providers to determine whether users are physically located in Australia and, if they are, to prevent them from accessing the gambling site," Alston said.

The managing director of online gambling provider Lassiters, Peter Bridge, said he was pleased the government had opted to allow Australian companies to continue operating overseas.

"We operate in 210 countries and Australia is a very small part of our business," Bridge said.

Lassiters introduced online gambling in Australia in 1999 prior to the freeze, enabling it to continue to offer some gaming services at home.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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