Australian betting operator Sportsbet calls on government to legalize online in-play betting to keep Aussie punters from black market.
In a submission to the Barry O’Farrell-led review of Australian online betting laws, Paddy Power-owned Sportsbet has urged the government to allow licensed Australian bookmarkers to offer online live sports betting. The company suggested that the inability of the local operators to offer the product pushes more punters onto the international “black market.”
“In a real sense the IGA is ‘analogue’ legislation ill-suited and ill-equipped to deal with the digital age,” said Sportsbet. “Consumers now expect to be able to wager on their mobile devices and over the internet but Australian licensed wagering service providers cannot legally provide this in-play product.”
Sportsbet estimated that up to AUD2.2 billion ($1.6 billion) in tax revenue could be lost by 2020.
“Measures to address the increasing threat of offshore operators without addressing the root of the problem and the fundamental reason why Australians are betting offshore: access to the in-play product via mobile devices and the internet – will not achieve the outcome the government is seeking. In this context, improving appropriate supply is plainly the best way to cut off popular demand,” said the company.
Australia is reviewing its 2001 Interactive Gambling Act (IGA). The revamp will focus on how best to combat the negative effects of international online gambling sites offering services to Australian gamblers and their ability to offer in-play sports wagers, which the IGA restricts to telephone or retail wagering outlets.
The racing and hotel sector fears that expanding online live betting would harm the industry and expect to lose up to $10 million a year in revenue. An association of Australia’s professional sports bodies, the Coalition of Major Professional and Participation Sports (COMPPS) said that allowing local betting firms to offer in-play online bets would decrease the potential for match fixing.
