Australia
Australia to Ban the Use of Credit Cards in Online Gambling
Australians at risk of online gambling harm will be better protected through a ban on credit card payments and fines of up to $234,750 for companies who don’t enforce it, through legislation to be introduced by the Albanese Labor Government to Parliament.
The Interactive Gambling Amendment (Credit and Other Measures) Bill 2023 will seek to ban the use of credit cards and credit related products, as well as digital currencies, used for online wagering.
The Bill continues the Government’s priority work to protect vulnerable Australians from online gambling harms and will also provide the Minister for Communications with the power to prohibit additional credit-related products as they emerge as a way of “future proofing” the legislation.
The introduction of the Bill implements recommendations from the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services (PJC Inquiry) from November 2021.
The Bill will expand the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s powers to ensure strong and effective enforcement of the new and existing civil penalty provisions under the Act. Penalties up to $234,750 could apply for any breach of the new provisions.
Industry and consumers will be provided with a six month transition period from the date of Royal Assent to change their business and betting behaviours respectively.
Since coming to Government Labor has prioritised work to reduce the harm caused by online gambling, including through implementing the final measures under the National Consumer Protection Framework.
This includes the introduction of monthly activity statements outlining wins and losses, new evidence-based taglines to replace “Gamble Responsibly,” nationally consistent training for staff working in online gambling companies and BetStop, the National Self-Exclusion Register, which allows consumers to exclude themselves from all Australian licensed wagering services for a period of three months up to a lifetime.
In addition, the Government will also introduce mandatory customer pre-verification, requiring wagering service providers to verify a customer’s identity when they register for a new account and before they can place a bet. This requirement is expected to be in place by the end of this month.
The Government is carefully considering the recommendations of a parliamentary inquiry into online gambling to inform future measures to help address the harm caused by online gambling.
A meeting of state, territory and Commonwealth ministers responsible for online wagering nationally will be held before the end of the year.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP:
“It’s as simple as this: people should not be betting with money they do not have.
“The Australian Government remains committed to protecting Australians from gambling harms.
“Legislating a ban on the use of credit cards for online gambling will help to protect vulnerable Australians and their loved ones.
“I would like to thank the wide variety of stakeholders, including harm reduction advocates, wagering and lottery providers, and banking payment organisations, for their contributions to and support for this Bill.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Social Services, the Hon Amanda Rishworth MP:
“Since coming to Government we’ve prioritised addressing the harm caused by online gambling and I’m pleased we are taking the next step with legislation to ban the use of credit cards.
“You can’t use your credit card to place a bet for land-based gambling and the same rules should apply for online gambling too.
“We’re serious about protecting vulnerable Australians from the harm we know online gambling can cause. Any platform breaching the new rules will face penalties.
“We know minimising the harm caused by online gambling is not a set and forget exercise and I look forward to working with my state and territory counterparts on what comes next to continue this positive change.”
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The NSW Government is encouraging the community to help spread the message this GambleAware Week, that with gambling, there’s more to lose than money; it can also affect health, relationships and wellbeing.
Running from today, 20 October to 26 October, this year’s campaign is also focussing on promoting the range of free and confidential support available to those struggling with gambling harm.
In addition, the NSW Government is continuing its campaign to reduce the amount of sports betting advertising with its Reclaim the Game initiative, delivered in partnership with 19 NSW sporting clubs from six codes: the A-League, AFL, Cricket, the National Basketball League, Netball and the National Rugby League.
This includes the Sydney Kings and the Illawarra Hawks men’s basketball teams along with the Sydney Flames women’s basketball team. All three teams have just signed up for a further two seasons.
Sports betting is most common among young people aged 18-24 years. A 2024 NSW Gambling Survey found sports and race betting responsible for 16.5% of gambling harm.
Reclaim the Game aims to counteract the saturation of sports betting advertising and help people understand their choices and decisions about gambling, encouraging them to take action to prevent and reduce gambling harm by seeking support when they need it.
In 2025-26, the NSW Government has committed $20.7 million from the Responsible Gambling Fund for gambling support services, up from $19.19 million the previous year.
The government has implemented a suite of measures to reduce gambling harm, including:
- Committing $100 million to harm minimisation – investing in research, treatment, services and reform,
- Banning gambling advertising on public transport, and the terminals people catch it from,
- Banning all external gambling signage in licensed premises and introducing Responsible Gambling Officers for venues with more than 20 gaming machine entitlements, and
- Banning political donations from clubs with electronic gaming machines.
Reclaim the Game is an initiative of the NSW Office of Responsible Gambling, which also manages the statewide gambling support service GambleAware.
Information about GambleAware Week activities, Reclaim the Game, plus resources and support information are available at www.gambleaware.nsw.gov.au
Call the 24-hour GambleAware Helpline on 1800 858 858 for free and confidential support. In-language support is also available for those from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said:
“The NSW Government is committed to reducing gambling harm which not only impacts individuals, but also their loved ones and the broader community.
“I’m pleased to announce the NSW Government has extended the Reclaim the Game partnerships with the Sydney Kings, Sydney Flames and Illawarra Hawks. These partnerships have helped us spread this important message through reclaiming advertising space and enlisting clubs to engage with fans and the community on responsible gambling.
“Everyone has a role to play in keeping our communities safe, informed and supported. With gambling, there’s more to lose than money. You could be risking your family home, that dream holiday, your health or your relationships.
“This GambleAware Week, start a conversation with those who matter most about what gambling’s really costing. If you or someone you care about is struggling, support is available.”
Sydney Kings and Flames Chief Commercial Officer Amanda Farag said: “The Sydney Kings and Flames have been proud long-term partners of Reclaim the Game, and we are excited to renew this partnership. We wish basketball to remain a family-friendly environment, and we support the message of responsible gambling. We are proud of our ongoing commitment to this message”
Illawarra Hawks General Manager Commercial Aaron Anderson said: “The Illawarra Hawks are proud to continue our partnership with Reclaim the Game and stand alongside the Sydney Kings and Sydney Flames, in creating a safer, more positive sporting environment.
“By extending our partnership, we’re sending a clear message, basketball is about community, competition, and passion – not gambling. This initiative empowers fans to enjoy the game for what it truly is, while raising awareness about the support available through GambleAware.”
The post NSW Government: Play your part this GambleAware Week appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Tabcorp Holdings Limited (Tabcorp) announced the appointment of Vivian Stewart to the Tabcorp Board as a Non-Executive Director, subject to the receipt of the required regulatory approvals.
Mr Stewart is a leading telecommunications and technology Non-Executive Director with 17 years of experience on public company boards. He is a Non-Executive Director of ASX-listed technology company Superloop Limited where he is Chair of the Risk and Compliance Committee. Mr Stewart brings significant executive experience to Tabcorp, including most recently as Chief Operating Officer of global enterprise software company Bigtincan. Mr Stewart also founded corporate advisory firm Callafin where he advised on M&A transactions and capital raisings for both public and private companies.
Tabcorp Chair Brett Chenoweth said: “We’re pleased to welcome Vivian to the Tabcorp Board. He’s an experienced director with a deep knowledge of the telecommunications and technology sectors,which is critical as it underpins a large part of our business. His deep knowledge will be invaluable as we continue to evolve and innovate our product offerings.
“Vivian also brings substantial commercial experience to the business and we’re looking forward to adding his skillsets to the composition of our Board.”
Mr Stewart will be formally appointed as a Director following the receipt of necessary approvals. In the meantime, he will act as an Observer on the Board from 1 November 2025.
The post Tabcorp Appoints Vivian Stewart as Non-executive Director appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has requested the Australian internet service providers (ISPs) to block more illegal online gambling sites, after investigations found these services to be operating in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.
The latest sites blocked include Crown Gold, Maxispin Casino, Rain.gg, Didibet, LuckyBet, Malina Casino and Spins of Glory.
Website blocking is one of a range of enforcement options to protect Australians against illegal online gambling. Since the ACMA made its first blocking request in November 2019, 1338 illegal gambling and affiliate websites have been blocked. Around 220 illegal services have also pulled out of the Australian market since the ACMA started enforcing new illegal online gambling rules in 2017.
The post ACMA Blocks More Illegal Online Gambling Sites appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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