In an act of defiance, the Australian Capital Territory is ignoring the Federal Government's 12-month moratorium on new Internet gambling licences, which -- although unwritten -- is effective as of today.
The ACT Government issued new licences to the territory's division of land-based lottery and gaming company Tattersalls on Wednesday and ACT TAB on Thursday. And claims it will continue to process seven other applicants on the waiting list.
"The Feds have not put pen to paper to draft any legislation," on a moratorium of online gaming licences, Vicki Dunne, advisor to the ACT Attorney General Gary Humphries, told ZDNet Australia.
A letter issued to the states and territories by the Federal Government said it would seek state views on draft legislation. However, Dunne said that the Federal Government hadn't specified exactly what the draft legislation would cover. The Commonwealth has "created a huge level of uncertainty," Dunne said.
Furthermore, according to Dunne, the ACT Government would have to amend its own current legislation on the issuance of online gaming licences if a 12-month moratorium was to go ahead. Legislation shared by the ACT, Queensland, the Northern Territory, South Australia and Tasmania does not prevent companies from applying for licences, Dunne said. They "can only accept or reject applications on the grounds set out," Dunne added -- not because the Federal Government tells them to.
A spokesperson for Federal communications minister, Senator Richard Alston, could think of very little to say to ZDNet Australia on the matter. He confirmed only that the moratorium "takes effect as of today" and said that "the state and territory governments were aware of the Commonwealth's position" on the issuance of new online gaming licences.
He would not confirm whether or not the Commonwealth would turn a blind eye to or block any licences issued by ACT Government this week or in the near future.
Tattersalls told ZDNet Australia that they were taking a "wait-and-see" approach to the furore.
"We're not getting involved," a company spokeswoman said. "It's a matter between the state and federal governments." She said that Tattersalls' operators didn't think they'd be affected by the moratorium, "our licence has been issued," she said.
