The Australian federal government is well aware of the threat posed by unregulated overseas gambling operators, but as Bren O’Brien discusses, the federal body charged with policing the issue remains largely powerless to stop the flow of money.
In the two years since the You Win Some, You Lose More report was released, one of the 31 recommendations put forward by the federal parliamentary committee chaired by the late Peta Murphy, has captured 99 per cent of the media attention.
But beyond the phased introduction of gambling advertising bans, the report identified several other important recommendations relating to how wagering is regulated and the threat posed by offshore wagering operators.
Recommendation 3 related to the establishment of a dedicated national regulator, Recommendation 24 the appointment of a national ombudsman and Recommendation 7, to increasing the government’s power to block and punish illegal overseas operators.
The body charged with the majority of federal government regulation of gambling is the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), which is empowered chiefly under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.
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