Is the hardline Australian responsible gambling approach really working as planned? Or would it be more effective to regulate the market? (Image from Bermix Studio at unsplash.com)
As the Australian Government imposes yet more gambling restrictions on its punters in land-based casinos, the flaws in the plans are becoming increasingly obvious, and the polar opposite of what the Government was hoping to achieve is actually happening.
As the shackles tighten, more and more Aussies are starting to get fed up with having their entertainment source limited, and as a result, floods of players are turning their back on local Australian pokie machines and turning their heads towards the more limber world of online casino.
Is the Australian government helping matters, or is it having a detrimental effect?
What are the Limits Being Imposed – What is the Logic Behind Restricting Players?
During the height of the covid-19 pandemic, the Australian Government had a fixed maximum bet of $AUD 10 on a single spin on a pokie, meaning that a player could potentially lose more than $AUD 1000 in an hour. Approximately 44,000 Canberrans are currently trying to cope with problem gambling according to a recent report. Those restrictions are going to become a lot tighter, with bets being restricted to a maximum of $AUD 5, and the most a player can load up in one time will be $AUD 100, meaning that a player will not have as much time to lose the same money.
The logic seems pretty obvious at first, but what about the players who are only interested in giant payouts that $AUD 5 spins simply cannot offer them? These players are looking elsewhere, and it seems like the answer lies within online gambling.
According to an article from Riotact, approximately 44,000 people in Canberra are suffering with problems caused due to problem gambling, with the government seeing the new measurements as a way to lower that.
Why Aussies Love Online Gambling – The Sky is the Limit
Online casinos have far higher limits and are available over the Web at the click of a button on mobile, as well as on desktop through all major browsers. Even though Australia regulates retail, land-based, and online sports betting via licenses and makes big brands like Ladbrokes set up local companies, the government does not afford the same privilege for online casino games. As a result, more Aussies could be pushed to unregulated gambling sites to play the slot limits they prefer playing, while regulating the online casino market would prevent this and protect the country’s citizens.
The Australian online casinos listed here do not under Aussie law as they are overseas, and so it is impossible for the Australian government to stop players.
What the Australian Government Could Do to Prevent a Mass Exodus – The UK Model Works
The Australian Government is acting on the precedence that the smaller the stakes, the safer the gambler when we know this is not actually to the case. Other countries have welcomed online gambling companies, but they must operate under certain conditions set out by an authority, such as the UKGC. There are multiple benefits to this. For instance, the Government will be able to generate revenue through additional taxes from money that would otherwise be going offshore. The Government would also be able to regulate the market, and therefore would be able to ensure fair gaming, and better safety and security.
In my personal opinion, if you want to stop problem gambling online, then regulate the market. Having such heavy restrictions is like owning a car but only being allowed to drive it in first gear. All the government is doing by lowering land-based bet limits on pokies is pushing more Aussie online to casinos not regulated under Aussie laws – thus defeating the purpose of protecting its citizens.
Will this move push Aussies to overseas online casinos?: It makes sense, as these casinos offer thousands of games versus a pokie slot shop and the few land-based casinos in the country. Although the Aussie government is trying to ban online casino sites, there are too many to feasibly do this. Plus, players can always use a VPN to access online casinos.
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