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Interactive gambling (including internet-based gambling) is regulated under both Australian and Queensland law. Interactive gambling licensing is regulated in Queensland by the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR). “We go on football apps and things like that and the first thing that they see when they try and watch a replay of the game is gambling ads,” he said.

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Pokies and betting are particularly dangerous forms of gambling. Australia has the highest per-capita gambling losses in the world. Our average annual losses per adult ($1,635) far exceed the average in similar countries such as the US ($809) and New Zealand ($584) (Figure 1.1).

As a business, The Star is ahead of many in our industry in terms of diversity and inclusion, but there’s still a lot to do. The Trans and gender-diverse communities are starting to feel vulnerable, so let’s continue to work on making The Star a safe and inclusive place for everyone, esp., for trans and gender-diverse team members. But estimates of their community benefits are highly inflated, and their most valuable contributions don’t rely on pokies profits. Providers should also give warning messages to customers as their limit approaches, so it doesn’t come as a shock. Many video games include gambling-like features that familiarise children with gambling and can be a gateway to other gambling. Loot boxes, in particular, are a common gambling-like feature in electronic games and have been linked to gambling problems (see Box 4).

Our proposed reforms do not curtail the availability of legal gambling websites. Setting a pre-commitment limit will add only a small friction to the sign-up process, and most people’s spending already falls under our proposed maximum limits. It is unlikely that there would be a major exodus to offshore providers to avoid these minor inconveniences. If feasible, a universal pre-commitment system could give gamblers better information about their own spending patterns and regulators better information on broader patterns of gambling and gambling harm – data that currently only the industry itself holds.

And they are particularly prevalent in NSW, which has almost as many pokies as the rest of Australia combined. To find out how to apply for an interactive gambling key person licence, as part of a licence application, contact OLGR. If you wish to conduct online skill-based games you should seek independent legal advice in relation to whether the game is able to be conducted under the provisions of the gaming legislation administered in Queensland prior to making an application. Shayne Rodgers has not gambled for more than a decade, but he said he now worries about his son’s exposure to gambling.

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The federal government has responsibility for online gambling but is yet to step up and really own this role. But people still cannot consistently self-exclude from all forms of gambling. And disquiet about the proliferation of online gambling harm triggered the 2023 Murphy Inquiry, which made 31 recommendations supported by multi-partisan consensus – a rare feat. The federal government has taken more than 14 months to respond to the inquiry, but leaks last month on the potential response231 sparked protracted debate in the media, parliament, and Labor’s own caucus – showing how widespread the public support for reform is. Our other recommendations to reduce gambling exposure and introduce mandatory pre-commitment should significantly reduce gambling harm, and, consequently, demand for help services. But if the review finds that more funding for services and/or research is needed, governments could make up the gap by increasing gambling taxes and closing tax loopholes.

• It is unlikely that there would be a major exodus to offshore providers to avoid these minor inconveniences.
• This data can and should be deidentified to protect people’s privacy.
• Gambling licences are a privilege granted by governments – they are not a right – and they do not override government responsibility to legislate in the best interests of the Australian people.
• Mandatory pre-commitment with maximum loss limits would ensure gamblers no longer lose more than they can afford.

The industry has a track record of thwarting reforms, including by stoking community fears about unintended consequences. In parallel to the reforms above, the federal government should investigate the feasibility of a single system for mandatory pre-commitment across all gambling environments. Rather than setting separate limits for pokies, online betting, and other forms of gambling, the ideal would be a single limit across all forms of gambling. Offering a buyback option should reduce pokies numbers while giving the industry some choice in how they manage the impact of the mandatory scheme on their business. Buyback costs could be substantial if lots of machines are non-compliant and venues opt to surrender their licences. While this is unlikely – given how profitable pokies are216 – a substantial reduction in pokies numbers would come with great social benefits in reducing exposure to gambling,217 so governments should not shy away from the risk of a higher (one-off) cost.

Pre-commitment for pokies would be a small, one-off hassle – like signing up for a library card or public transport card.255 For online gamblers, who must already prove their identity to create an account,256 it should add little to the https://wavetechglobal.com/how-to-become-a-casino-dealer-australia/ sign-up process. Industry lobbyists claim that restricting or banning gambling ads would jeopardise the financial viability of sport, or the free-to-air TV industry. But these industries have adapted to advertising bans in the past, and would do so again. The time is right for federal, state, and territory governments to come together to implement a coordinated reform package. Taking action together is likely to be the most effective way to take on the vested interests. Once a national pre-commitment system for online gambling is well established, it may be possible to extend the system to cover other forms of gambling too.

This will go a long way to preventing harm from the two most risky and widespread forms of gambling. For those who choose to gamble, mandatory pre-commitment with maximum loss limits would ensure they no longer lose more than they can afford. The federal government should establish a national pre-commitment system for online gambling, and state governments should roll out state-wide pre-commitment for pokies. In parallel, the federal government should investigate the feasibility of a universal system across all gambling environments. Preventing gambling harm will reduce the gambling industry’s profits, so governments need to be prepared to stand up to strong vested interest pushback.