Study: Online gambling exploding in Australia

An Australian study that looked at the online gambling habits of more than 6,500 people found that 50 percent of the participants had taken up gambling in the past six years. This makes online gambling the fastest growing form of gambling in the country.

Not surprisingly, this study has senator Nick Xenophon's panties all in a bunch.

From the Sydney Morning Herald:

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The South Australian independent senator Nick Xenophon said Australia already held the dubious title of the country with the highest gambling losses per capita and the greatest problem gambling rates.

''The next tidal wave of problem gamblers will come from online gambling unless we take urgent action now,'' he said.

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I think that accessibility of online gambling is not the root of the problem. Soap and ropes are also easy to find, but people don't hang themselves as soon as they lay their hands on them. If so many Aussies choose to gamble there must be a reason for that.

I think its about time to relaunch AusVegas and Canbet! :borg:

The investigation may not representative if no more information about the surveyed people were provided. How they were selected? Where are they? What are their ages?

But gambling on internet is always handy for real players anyway. It is not understandable why online casino gambling is not allowed if lottery betting and sports betting online is permitted in Australia.

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Originally Posted by Schankwart

I think its about time to relaunch AusVegas and Canbet! :borg:

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If I'm not mistaken AusVegas was closed together with several other sites run by Lasseters. At that time Lasseters said they were losing money after the UIGEA came into force and they had to reject the American players. Lasseters seemed to run the only legitimate online casino business in the country where 80% of the population are considered gamblers and this business wasn't profitable. I don't get this :no:

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Originally Posted by online-casino

Lasseters seemed to run the only legitimate online casino business in the country where 80% of the population are considered gamblers and this business wasn't profitable. I don't get this :no:

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They did not take Australian players.

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Originally Posted by online-casino

If I'm not mistaken AusVegas was closed together with several other sites run by Lasseters. At that time Lasseters said they were losing money after the UIGEA came into force and they had to reject the American players. Lasseters seemed to run the only legitimate online casino business in the country where 80% of the population are considered gamblers and this business wasn't profitable. I don't get this :no:

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80% Gamblers doesn't mean they translate to online casino gamblers.
The horses, and sports betting are immensly big here - there is also a large young online poker following.

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Originally Posted by Renee

They did not take Australian players.

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I didn't know that. I assumed that if they were the only legal casino they could take Australian players - but that would have been too good to be true :)

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Originally Posted by rak

80% Gamblers doesn't mean they translate to online casino gamblers.
The horses, and sports betting are immensly big here - there is also a large young online poker following.

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Yer, that's true - there are many ways to be a gambler. But sports betting online is legal and have always been legal, right?

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Originally Posted by online-casino

I didn't know that. I assumed that if they were the only legal casino they could take Australian players - but that would have been too good to be true :)

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Well because they were legit (licensed by the govt etc) they couldn't take Aussie players as it is illegal.

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Originally Posted by Renee

Well because they were legit (licensed by the govt etc) they couldn't take Aussie players as it is illegal.

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Exactly. Our law in Australia is so vague and has not been updated for many years, it is not illegal for us to play but illegal for casinos to promote/accept Australian players.. If these new pokie reforms go through I don't think I would want it to become Legal for Casinos to be able to accept and promote to us, the restrictions would be terrible and may well be to off putting for most companies anyway.

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Well because they were legit (licensed by the govt etc) they couldn't take Aussie players as it is illegal.

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ITS management (representing CasinoRewards Casinos / Rewardsaffiliates) broke the law by taking bets from Australians according to experts

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23 complaints about ITSM-managed sites with the Australian Media and Communications Authority, or ACMA, which after more than three months determined that the law was being broken.

DIANNE COHEN: The ACMA found that they were all in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001. Every one of them.

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Source :

http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2011/s3258053.htm

I think the future is bright for Australian affiliates. My personal view is that the laws will change to allow regulated safe betting online for Australians, as opposed to them gabling on offshore sites with no protection. Plus there is obviously the huge amount of tax the government could get by legalising and regulating it.

It's a massive market for casinos.

I never understood why more US and UK affiliates don't build Australian sites. I guess it must be quite hard to get a .com.au domain name.

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Originally Posted by david_tamworth

Plus there is obviously the huge amount of tax the government could get by legalising and regulating it.

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Exactly! And there is no way the government can't see the opportunity to get another revenue stream, so why do things remain so ridiculous?

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Originally Posted by Louis - Income Access

I never understood why more US and UK affiliates don't build Australian sites. I guess it must be quite hard to get a .com.au domain name.

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You need to have an ABN to get a .com.au domain. ABN = Australian Business Number. So you need to have a registered business.

Renee why are Casino Rewards Casinos accepting bets from players based in Australia as shown in the video ?

Source :

http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2011/s3258053.htm

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Originally Posted by GCG

... why are Casino Rewards Casinos accepting bets from players based in Australia as shown in the video ?

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GCG, every online casino that accepts Australian players is in violation of Austrailian law according to that video. Just like every online casino that accepts players from within the United States is violating U.S. law according to the U.S. Department of Justice. I would think, as a gambling affiliate yourself, and one that promotes sites that are not licensed in all the jurisdictions in which they operate, that you would not object to practices you condone based on the sites you promote. Forgive me for being somewhat harsh in my response, but I don't like to see sand unfairly thrown in the eyes of the programs that particiate here.

Michael