Interactive gambling licensing

The industry has a track record of thwarting reforms, including by stoking community fears about unintended consequences. In parallel to the reforms above, the federal government should investigate the feasibility of a single system for mandatory pre-commitment across all gambling environments. Rather than setting separate limits for pokies, online betting, and other forms of gambling, the ideal would be a single limit across all forms of gambling. Offering a buyback option should reduce pokies numbers while giving the industry some choice in how they manage the impact of the mandatory scheme on their business. Buyback costs could be substantial if lots of machines are non-compliant and venues opt to surrender their licences. While this is unlikely – given how profitable pokies are216 – a substantial reduction in pokies numbers would come with great social benefits in reducing exposure to gambling,217 so governments should not shy away from the risk of a higher (one-off) cost.

2.1 Gambling taxes are an important source of revenue

These profits rely heavily on a small share of high-spending individuals. Just 5 per cent of gamblers account for 77 per cent of gambling spending using debit cards (Figure 1.6). This top 5 per cent spend 10 times as much as the bottom 80 per cent combined. In parallel, the federal government should investigate the feasibility of a universal pre-commitment system with maximum loss limits. Meanwhile, online betting has surged, particularly among young men, spurred by a barrage of gambling advertising.

Interactive gambling (including internet-based gambling) is regulated under both Australian and Queensland law. Interactive gambling licensing is regulated in Queensland by the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR). “We go on football apps and things like that and the first thing that they see when they try and watch a replay of the game is gambling ads,” he said. Lived experience advocate and former gambler Shayne Rodgers grew up with gambling as part of his life. Among those identified as regular monthly gamblers, 7.7 per cent were considered high risk.

A phased approach would give sporting bodies and broadcasters time to find replacement revenue.191 Despite alarmist claims, this would not be a fatal blow to either (Chapter 4). Gambling is https://artdaily.cc/news/154814/how-to-start-an-online-casino–tips-for-australian big business, and the industry has repeatedly used its political power to thwart efforts to better protect the public. Gambling companies and peak bodies apply pressure to our politicians through every avenue to protect their profits. For the full list of interactive gambling fees, read Schedule 3 of the Interactive Gaming (Player Protection) Regulation (Qld). Once a licence is granted, licensees must submit all proposed interactive games for assessment and approval by the Minister prior to being introduced in Queensland.

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• State governments give away at least $1.2 billion in pokies tax concessions for clubs230 – more than enough to cover the cost of improving support services.
• Australia has taken a lax approach to regulating gambling, and it shows.
• You can nominate someone you know to support you while you are self-excluded.
• The federal government should establish a national mandatory pre- commitment system for online gambling, and state governments should implement state-wide mandatory pre-commitment schemes for pokies.

There is no current holder of an interactive gambling licence in Queensland. On 5 April 2016, eligible shareholders were sent a letter together with a Share Retention Form (for the Small Holding Sale Facility) or a Sale Instruction Form (for the Voluntary Share Sale Facility), and Terms and Conditions for the relevant share sale facility. Even for those who identify as LGBTQI+, we can still be allies for others within the community.

If feasible, a universal pre-commitment system could give gamblers better information about their own spending patterns and regulators better information on broader patterns of gambling and gambling harm – data that currently only the industry itself holds. The online and pokies pre-commitment schemes recommended in Section 3.2.1 also offer this side benefit. This data can and should be deidentified to protect people’s privacy. Most prominently, the federal government has taken more than 14 months to respond to the Murphy Inquiry into online gambling, which handed down 31 recommendations in 2023 with multi-partisan backing.

But estimates of their community benefits are highly inflated, and their most valuable contributions don’t rely on pokies profits. Providers should also give warning messages to customers as their limit approaches, so it doesn’t come as a shock. Many video games include gambling-like features that familiarise children with gambling and can be a gateway to other gambling. Loot boxes, in particular, are a common gambling-like feature in electronic games and have been linked to gambling problems (see Box 4).

Gambling causes financial and mental distress

The individualistic approach is promoted by the gambling industry.105 Blaming problems on a small group of ‘aberrant’ individuals absolves the industry of responsibility, and diminishes the case for stronger action by governments. In many communities in NSW, particularly poorer communities, it’s difficult to find a venue that doesn’t have pokies (Figure 1.4). People who gamble, their families, and the broader community pay the price. Gambling can lead to financial and mental distress, relationship breakdown, family violence, and suicide.