Australia: Banning Online Poker Machines and Casinos Proves to be Useless
Attempts to ban internet poker machines and online gambling in Australia have not been very successful. We look at why Australia has failed!
The restriction on Australians playing at online poker machines and casinos is an abject disaster, but it barely gets any media attention. In Australia, online poker machines usually referred to as slots or pokies, prohibited by the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001.
More than 350 online casinos and over 20 online gambling marketers in Australia have been prohibited by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), yet they keep resurfacing. This is due to the fact that these iGaming operators headquartered overseas and aware of how simple its for them to escape any legal repercussions when providing Australian gamers with access to online poker machines.
Even though online gambling banned in Australia, its not very difficult for Aussies to find unlicensed and fully-operational online casinos that allow Australian players to access online poker machine wagering.
There is even a professional online casino rating website aimed at Australian players that is run by eCOGRA; a group that describes itself as an independent auditor that examines online casinos to see; whether they are upholding fair play and following the code of conduct.
Aussies Love Online Casino Games
One of the largest developments in the gambling environment over the past several years has been the expanding accessibility of interactive or internet gambling on a worldwide scale. With aggressive marketing employed to promote more usage of this gambling style; interactive gambling is growing in popularity, especially in Australia.
Aussies over the years have developed a reputation for being the world’s worst gamblers. In Australia, online poker machines, sports betting, and race betting dominates interactive gambling; and younger males are more likely to participate in this type of gambling.
It is evident there is a high demand for no deposit casinos in Australia; and a simple Google search proves this within seconds. You will find a number of offshore gaming operators launching no deposit casinos in Australia in order to cater to the on-going demand for online poker machine games even though they are banned down under.
Australia’s Gambling Problem: A Statistical Overview
According to the 2019–20 national survey on online and interactive gambling conducted in Australia; the proportion of players who engage in online gambling has grown from one in eight gamblers in 2010–11 to one in three gamblers in 2019–20. About 47.1% of players have participated in internet gambling at least once since there was a lack of knowledge regarding the illegality of offshore gambling. The study also revealed that interactive gambling participants had a roughly three-fold increased risk of developing a gambling problem.
As per the survey, interactive gamblers also more likely to suffer gambling-related harm to themselves than non-interactive gamblers; with Electronic Gaming Machines (EGMs); like poker machines accounting for the majority of the damage brought on by various forms of online gambling.
As the number of players who play online games on smartphones has risen in recent years; from 11.7% in 2010–11 to 25.2% in 2019–20; interactive gamblers have also recognized this platform as the most dangerous and addictive; partly due to the ability to be able to gamble anywhere; and partly due to the 24/7 availability that they offer.
Australia Must Address Gambling Harm
As a result of the national survey on online and interactive gambling conducted in 2019–20; as well as statistical comparisons between the 2019–20 survey and the national gambling survey conducted in 2010–11; it appears that interactive gambling causes more gambling problems than non-interactive gambling.
Online poker machine games tend to be the most harmful, followed by race betting and sports betting. However, it seems as though the media is solely concerned with the problems brought on by offline gaming.
Regulation of gambling sites, community education on the dangers of interactive gambling; specialized treatment and prevention programs; and a better knowledge of gambling laws are just a few examples of activities that might help reduce gambling-related harm.
