The review--a statutory requirement of the Interactive Gambling Act (2001)--is to be carried out by the Department for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts (DCITA).
Currently the Act makes it illegal to either provide or advertise online interactive gaming services to customers in Australia. This covers online casino-style services such as roulette, poker, craps, blackjack and online poker machines.
The review will consider recent technological developments, and also look at activities currently exempt under the Act. This includes telephone betting, lottery services, and betting on horse or greyhound racing.
The enforceability of financial agreements between gamblers and online interactive gambling sites is also being assessed as part of the review. At the moment the Act provides for governments to implement regulations that would make agreements involving payment for the supply of illegal interactive gambling services unenforceable.
DCITA plans to seek submissions from industry and community groups, and also external expertise on the broad range of matters to be dealt with under the review.
Aloha! lpd