The AHA is amongst those calling for online poker machines to be included in the Government’s review into illegal offshore betting.
Speaking to PubTIC, Australian Hotels Association (AHA) National CEO Stephen Ferguson says they are pushing to have gaming as part of the scope in the review, given they are so detrimental to society.
“People are wagering offshore through unlicensed entities. These entities don’t adhere to the same return-to-player regulations, and in fact there is often no guarantee wins will even be paid.
“Bets can’t be tracked, and Federal authorities are powerless to investigate issues. Sites may have no integrity, which exposes Australians to risk.”
An expanded Review into offshore wagering was announced by former social services minister Scott Morrison, prior to the ousting of Tony Abbott and Malcom Turnbull appointing Christian Porter as the new Social Services Minister. Porter has already stated he plans to continue the review in the coming months.
Despite the prominence of anti-gaming groups’ calls for greater focus on the issue of problem gambling, the Government’s terms of reference for the Review mandate investigation into the economic impacts of illegal offshore wagering on “legitimate Australian wagering businesses”.
Quite like the debate around Uber and Airbnb’s flaunting of the existing regulations – put in place for the protection of consumers – illegal offshore betting profits from breaking the law, and are operating on an even playing field with legitimate venue operators.
“Of course, they also don’t pay any revenue to the State or Federal Governments,” continued Ferguson. “Pubs contribute around 30 per cent of the gaming revenue collected by the States.
“It’s time Government started looking after the people that pay their taxes.”
The Review’s terms also include looking into the “regulative, legislative and technological options” that could be used to mitigate “the cost of illegal offshore wagering”.
While this “cost” could be seen as both social and fiscal, it would seem financially prudent to take necessary steps to at least minimise the losses in tax revenue.
Details for submissions into the Review have not yet been finalised. The AHA has requested a meeting with the new Minister to discuss the matter.
