Illegal Online Gambling in the Outback

A new study by the ANU Gambling Research Centre has revealed that one in seven Australians who place online bets on sporting events are also gambling illegally at Internet casinos.

Almost 1600 online gamblers registered with wagering providers replied to two of the surveys. More than 80 per cent of them gambled at least once a week, mainly on the races, and 15 per cent betted daily.


Professor McMillen, director of the ANU Gambling Research Centre, said the results of her surveys proved the online gambling ban had been unsuccessful and that the Federal Government should legalise and regulate the industry.


Lasseters, the nation's only legal online casino, open only to non-Australians, accepts 18 million bets a month. Lasseters has asked the Federal Government to regulate online gambling, saying modern technology allows problem gamblers to be restricted.


In her submission to the Government's review of the Interactive Gambling Act, McMillen said allowing an Australian company to offer online gaming while banning Australians from playing was 'morally inconsistent and indefensible.'


Richard Alston, a spokesman for the Communications Minister, would not comment on the submission, but said the Government made laws for Australians, and could not regulate activities of people overseas. Whatever the Australian Government decides to do, online gambling is forecast to continue growing by at least 20 per cent a year.