the Act should be amended to simplify the definition of prohibited activities and extend the role of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) in relation to all aspects of enforcement and compliance with the Act. Recommendations Recommendation 1: Commonwealth, State and Territory governments should recommit to Gambling Research Australia to ensure that research funds are directed towards maximising the information available to policy makers, academics, the community and industry about the nature, prevalence and impact of gambling across Australia. Recommendation 2: A national policy framework, comprising agreed minimum standards, be established to provide consistency in the regulation of online wagering and to improve the effectiveness of consumer protection and harm minimisation measures across the nation. Recommendation 3: Until the proposed national framework is established and operating, consideration of additional in-play betting products should be deferred and legislative steps taken to respect the original intent of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. Recommendation 4: A national self-exclusion register that applies across all online operators should be developed, either by an expansion of the Northern Territory register or through a new national system. The costs associated with such a register should be borne by online operators. Recommendation 5: Operators should be required to offer customers an opportunity to set voluntary limits on their wagering activities. Consumers should be prompted about setting or reviewing limits on a regular basis. Recommendation 6: Operators should be required to apply additional consumer protections where or deferred settlement betting is available. ‘credit’ Recommendation 7: between online wagering operators and payday and other lenders should be discouraged. Recommendation 8: Users should be regularly sent online statements detailing their wagering activity including total wagered, winnings and losses. These statements should also be readily accessible through the operator’s website. As part of the national policy framework, the current 90 day Recommendation 9: verification period should be reduced to at least 45 days. Recommendation 10: All staff involved with online users must undertake appropriate training in the responsible conduct of gambling provided through an accredited provider. – Recommendation 11: That the national policy framework include consistent, enforceable rules about advertising of online gambling. Recommendation 12: The national policy framework should ensure that advertising of online services using social or digital media platforms is subject to similar regulatory controls as other media. The national policy framework should introduce a system to allow for Recommendation 13: the development and use of nationally consistent and standardised messaging to assist efforts to ensure responsible gambling.
the Act should be amended to simplify the definition of prohibited activities and extend the role of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) in relation to all aspects of enforcement and compliance with the Act. Recommendations Recommendation 1: Commonwealth, State and Territory governments should recommit to Gambling Research Australia to ensure that research funds are directed towards maximising the information available to policy makers, academics, the community and industry about the nature, prevalence and impact of gambling across Australia. Recommendation 2: A national policy framework, comprising agreed minimum standards, be established to provide consistency in the regulation of online wagering and to improve the effectiveness of consumer protection and harm minimisation measures across the nation. Recommendation 3: Until the proposed national framework is established and operating, consideration of additional in-play betting products should be deferred and legislative steps taken to respect the original intent of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. Recommendation 4: A national self-exclusion register that applies across all online operators should be developed, either by an expansion of the Northern Territory register or through a new national system. The costs associated with such a register should be borne by online operators. Recommendation 5: Operators should be required to offer customers an opportunity to set voluntary limits on their wagering activities. Consumers should be prompted about setting or reviewing limits on a regular basis. Recommendation 6: Operators should be required to apply additional consumer protections where ‘credit’ or deferred settlement betting is available. Recommendation 7: between online wagering operators and payday and other lenders should be discouraged. Recommendation 8: Users should be regularly sent online statements detailing their wagering activity including total wagered, winnings and losses. These statements should also be readily accessible through the operator’s website. Recommendation 9: As part of the national policy framework, the current 90 day verification period should be reduced to at least 45 days. Recommendation 10: All staff involved with online users must undertake appropriate training in the responsible conduct of gambling – provided through an accredited provider. Recommendation 11: That the national policy framework include consistent, enforceable rules about advertising of online gambling. Recommendation 12: The national policy framework should ensure that advertising of online services using social or digital media platforms is subject to similar regulatory controls as other media. Recommendation 13: The national policy framework should introduce a system to allow for the development and use of nationally consistent and standardised messaging to assist efforts to ensure responsible gambling.
review_of_illegal_offshore_wagering_18_december_2015.docx