An individual is allowed to make a bet about a tennis match prior to the beginning of the game...
The interactive Gambling Act, which is otherwise known as IGA, was passed in 2001 to regulate gambling in Australia. The institution responsible for its passage was the Commonwealth Parliament. It was given Royal Assent by Australia’s Governor-General in the summer of 2001 to do so. The passage of this document was a major defining moment for Australian gambling legislation. Even the Governor-General’s initial policy which was initially meant to prevent any increase in the harmful side effects of gambling, such as chronic addiction, was affected by this act. The entire Australian community now had to adapt to something entirely new with the passage of this act.
The purpose of the Interactive Gambling Act is to target and track down anyone who provides interactive gambling services. It doesn’t affect potential or current customers. According to the act, it’s considered a legal offense to provide any type of interactive gambling services to any customer that resides within the Australian continent. Anything related to poker and casinos or providing any kind of service similar to either for the Australian residents of the areas was also made illegal. As a result of this, a 2009 report showed that nearly $790 million Australian dollars (AUS) are spent to retain offshore gambling sites.
Even though the Interactive Gambling Act lifted the eight year long ban on online gambling, the introduction of the act into the Australian community also created a kind of favorable environment for gambling overall. To be more precise, it allowed for the expansion of remote gambling services throughout the country. There were certain compromises, however, that were allowed for online sports betting. According to Australian laws, there’s nothing illicit about offering internet sports betting offers to the Australian communities. In fact, the Interactive Gambling Act states that it’s absolutely legal for Australians to engage in any kind of online gambling as long as they’re not the providers of online gambling.
Online wagering
Under the rules and regulations stated by the Interactive Gambling Act, online wagers also fall within the legal criteria. However, they’re illegal if they’re accepted after a sporting event has begun or if they use real-time betting which is otherwise referred to as ball-by-ball betting. An example of this would be that an individual is allowed to make a bet about a tennis match prior to the beginning of the game. However, that individual cannot make a bet during the tennis match, let alone after the match is complete. It’s also illegal to make bets during any breaks in the game, no matter what the sport may be. Furthermore, the Interactive Gambling Act made it so that online wagering on non-sporting events is exempt from any of its set regulations, whether the event has started or has yet to begin. Betting via telephone as a standard voice call falls within that range as well.
Online lotteries
In the case of online lotteries or online sales for lottery tickets, neither is prohibited by the Interactive Gambling Act. The only exception to this rule is directed at online instant lotteries and online scratch lotteries. This is because in practice, they are indistinguishable from other online player initiated games. Under Section 10 of the Interactive Gambling Act, the Minister has the right to make future regulations and bans for these type of lotteries, whether they’re online or otherwise.
Further information on interactive gambling in Australia is still experiencing extensive reviews. If you’d like to find out more, contact the Commission on +61 2 6207 2086, or email.