Australian Archives - Keno Wizard https://kenowizard.com/tag/australian/ The Ultimate Keno Destination for Odds, Tips & Tricks Sat, 27 Jan 2024 12:31:18 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5 https://i0.wp.com/kenowizard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/cropped-keno-wizard-icon.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Australian Archives - Keno Wizard https://kenowizard.com/tag/australian/ 32 32 230792155 Jannik Sinner vs. Daniil Medvedev 2024 Australian Open Odds, Time, and Prediction https://kenowizard.com/2024/01/27/jannik-sinner-vs-daniil-medvedev-2024-australian-open-odds-time-and-prediction/ https://kenowizard.com/2024/01/27/jannik-sinner-vs-daniil-medvedev-2024-australian-open-odds-time-and-prediction/#respond Sat, 27 Jan 2024 12:31:18 +0000 https://kenowizard.com/2024/01/27/jannik-sinner-vs-daniil-medvedev-2024-australian-open-odds-time-and-prediction/ The two pre-tournament favorites – Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz – are out of the picture. Jannik Sinner beat Djokovic in the semifinal, while Alcaraz’s journey was ended by Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinal. Then, Zverev’s AO24 campaign came to a stop in the semifinal against Daniil Medvedev. As a result, it’s the Sinner vs. [...]

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The two pre-tournament favorites – Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz – are out of the picture. Jannik Sinner beat Djokovic in the semifinal, while Alcaraz’s journey was ended by Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinal. Then, Zverev’s AO24 campaign came to a stop in the semifinal against Daniil Medvedev.

As a result, it’s the Sinner vs. Medvedev match that will decide the winner of the 2024 Australian Open. So, who will become the new champ? Let’s find out!

Jannik Sinner vs. Daniil Medvedev Australian Open 2024 Odds

Moneyline Odds
Jannik Sinner -250
Daniil Medvedev +200


10135 players claimed the offer this month

When, Where, and How to Watch?

  • Place: Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia
  • Date: Sunday, January 28, 2023
  • Time: ~6:00 a.m. ET
  • How to Watch: fubo

Jannik Sinner In the Best Form of His Life

The 22-year-old Italian is playing the best tennis of his career. Last season was great for him, with Sinner finishing the year in the 4th place in the ATP Rankings. However, 2024 could be even better.

He started it in top gear, winning the first five matches of the 2024 Australian Open in straight sets. Then, in the semifinal, he met the world No. 1, Novak Djokovic. Sinner entered that match as a huge +200 underdog, but he managed to upset the odds and win 3-1.

The only set Djokovic won was the third set, which went to a tiebreaker. And even that was very close, with Novak winning 8-6.

Can Medvedev Finally Win the Australian Open?

Daniil Medvedev came close to winning the Australian Open on two occasions. In 2021, he played against Djokovic in the Final but ended up losing 3-0. The following year, he played for the trophy against Nadal, but lost 3-2 this time despite having a 2-0 lead at one point.

Now, he’s got a seemingly easier task on his hands. He’s playing Jannik Sinner, who, let’s be realistic, isn’t as good as those two. Plus, Medvedev has played really well so far in Melbourne.

His toughest match so far happened in the semifinal against Alexander Zverev. Even though Zverev started the match strongly, winning the first two sets without any major problems. Then, Medvedev won the next three sets.

It took him nearly four and a half hours to book the ticket to the AO24 Final. Will this have an impact on his performance on Sunday?   

Jannik Sinner vs. Daniil Medvedev Prediction

In terms of talent, there’s little difference between Sinner and Medvedev. However, physically, we think Sinner has an advantage. The thing is that the longest the Italian has spent on the court at the 2024 Australian Open is 3:26 hours.

It happened against Djokovic, while in the other five matches, he got the job done in under three hours. Meanwhile, in his previous match, Medvedev spent 4:22 on the court.

Pick: Jannik Sinner

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Tim Costello Criticizes Australian Government for Underhanded Dealings with Gambling Operators https://kenowizard.com/2024/01/10/tim-costello-criticizes-australian-government-for-underhanded-dealings-with-gambling-operators/ https://kenowizard.com/2024/01/10/tim-costello-criticizes-australian-government-for-underhanded-dealings-with-gambling-operators/#respond Wed, 10 Jan 2024 17:18:02 +0000 https://kenowizard.com/2024/01/10/tim-costello-criticizes-australian-government-for-underhanded-dealings-with-gambling-operators/ Tim Costello, chief advocate for the Alliance for Gambling Reform, highlighted the importance of a gaming ad ban as Australia keeps struggling with a surge in problem gambling. He warned that clandestine talks behind closed doors could herald a potential compromise on the landmark parliamentary inquiry’s recommendations for gradually phasing out gambling advertising within three [...]

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Tim Costello, chief advocate for the Alliance for Gambling Reform, highlighted the importance of a gaming ad ban as Australia keeps struggling with a surge in problem gambling. He warned that clandestine talks behind closed doors could herald a potential compromise on the landmark parliamentary inquiry’s recommendations for gradually phasing out gambling advertising within three years.

A Lack of Transparency Raises Lobbying Concerns

Recently uncovered documents have unveiled closed-door dialogues between gambling entities, broadcasters, sporting codes, and global tech companies with Communications Minister Michelle Rowland and her staff. These talks centered on responding to proposals for a complete wagering advertising ban. Costello notes that stakeholders likely felt threatened by the measure and sought to apply pressure against it.

The involvement of prominent gambling companies like Sportsbet, Crown, Betfair, Tabcorp, and others in these private meetings has raised skepticism about the transparency and integrity of the decision-making process. Costello questioned the nature of the information shared behind closed doors and the validity of claims presented by these stakeholders, emphasizing the necessity for transparency in such discussions.

Australia has a huge blind spot when it comes to gambling and the immense harm it causes in the community.

Tim Costello

Speaking for The Sydney Morning Herald, Costello lamented the discreet discussions as Minister Peta Murphy, the inquiry’s chair, worked exhaustively until her recent unfortunate passing due to cancer. Murphy’s dedication culminated in a comprehensive report featuring 31 recommendations to curb the detrimental impact of online gambling and advertising on society. However, a compromise with the broader industry could jeopardize her vision.

Problem Gambling Remains a Pressing Issue

Highlighting the magnitude of gambling-related harm in Australia, with an annual loss exceeding $25 billion, Costello underscored the urgency to address this issue. He stressed the need for the government to honor the recommendations set forth by the multi-party parliamentary inquiry, resisting undue lobbying pressures from the gambling industry.

Moreover, he urged Australian lawmakers to heed the public sentiment, backed by polls indicating over 70% support for a gambling advertising ban. While Costello noted that ignoring industry recommendations could be counterproductive, he once again urged for transparency, highlighting the industry’s significant financial influence in various sectors as it defends its interests.

Now is time to resist the pressure and back-door lobbying by big gambling and other vested interests.

Tim Costello

As the government prepares to unveil its response to the Murphy inquiry, Costello implores new measures to reduce gambling-related harm, focusing on advertisement restrictions. He noted that gaming should face similar restrictions to tobacco and alcohol due to its widespread negative societal impact. The Australian government’s response should set the tone for its future gambling-related policy and hopefully dispel any integrity doubts.

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Australian Self-Exclusion Register Signups Start to Flag in November https://kenowizard.com/2023/12/20/australian-self-exclusion-register-signups-start-to-flag-in-november/ https://kenowizard.com/2023/12/20/australian-self-exclusion-register-signups-start-to-flag-in-november/#respond Wed, 20 Dec 2023 11:52:10 +0000 https://kenowizard.com/2023/12/20/australian-self-exclusion-register-signups-start-to-flag-in-november/ The online registry was introduced on August 21, 2023, and it has seen an immediate interest from punters, as the program is designed to allow Australians to enrol and be excluded from virtually all forms of gambling, retail and online across the nation. BetStop Continues to Bolster RG in Australia The measure is part of [...]

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The online registry was introduced on August 21, 2023, and it has seen an immediate interest from punters, as the program is designed to allow Australians to enrol and be excluded from virtually all forms of gambling, retail and online across the nation.

BetStop Continues to Bolster RG in Australia

The measure is part of a much broader attempt to change the country’s reputation for the biggest gambling spending and losses per capita worldwide. BetStop is a good step in that direction, with total registrations now hitting 13,608 nationwide.

Although there has been sustained interest, the current number of signees is behind the initial influx. In October, there were 3,121 signups compared to November’s 2,991, which may indicate that the initial peak of signees has been reached.

The exact number of problem gamblers in Australia is not presently known, but it’s estimated that at least 1% of the population suffers from it, amounting to roughly 193,000 people.

The data, however, is based on research conducted by the Australian Institute of Family Studies in 2015, which leaves more to be desired when approaching and understanding the issue today.

Regardless, BetStop has been a meaningful overall step in the right direction. Victoria, New South Wales, and Northern Territory have seen active participation from local players who have sought to exclude themselves from gambling activities.

Sweeping Reforms to Make Gambling Safer in the Country

The country itself has embarked on several meaningful changes to further strengthen these safeguards, including the introduction of a credit card ban for online gambling, which is hailed as a long overdue but important milestone in the country’s fight against gambling-related harm.

Meanwhile, a cashless gaming trial is taking place in New South Wales. The logic behind this is that the introduction of cashless gaming technology can help protect vulnerable consumers, but also stem other offenses such as money laundering, an issue that triggered sweeping reforms across the state and brought to light arguably dishonest practices by some of the largest gambling companies in the country.

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Australian Government Bans Credit Cards in Online Betting https://kenowizard.com/2023/12/07/australian-government-bans-credit-cards-in-online-betting/ https://kenowizard.com/2023/12/07/australian-government-bans-credit-cards-in-online-betting/#respond Thu, 07 Dec 2023 14:22:23 +0000 https://kenowizard.com/2023/12/07/australian-government-bans-credit-cards-in-online-betting/ A lot is changing when it comes to Australian gambling law, and new legislation has just been passed. The use of credit cards as a payment method for placing online bets will be prohibited from now on, as the Australian Federal Parliament decided. Important measure Kai Cantwell, the CEO of Responsible Wagering Australia, supports this [...]

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A lot is changing when it comes to Australian gambling law, and new legislation has just been passed. The use of credit cards as a payment method for placing online bets will be prohibited from now on, as the Australian Federal Parliament decided.

Important measure

Kai Cantwell, the CEO of Responsible Wagering Australia, supports this decision. He thinks that the country needs this decision since the residents will be allowed to gamble only with the money they actually have on their cards.

Cantwell commented: “This is an important measure to protect customers and their loved ones, making it easier for people to stay in control of their own gambling behavior. It will complement the existing offering of safer gambling account management tools by RWA members to customers to help them stay in control of their betting.”

Lotteries and keno issue

australian-parliament-passes-legislation-banning-online-credit-card-betting-He added that it was disappointing that some kinds of games, for example, lotteries and keno, were excluded from this ban since the lotteries are the most popular type of gambling in the country, especially in people from lower socioeconomic groups.

Only in 2020 and 2021 did citizens lose more than $3.2 billion playing these two types of games, according to the Australian Gambling Statistics. When online keno was legalized in Victoria, these numbers increased even further, and in 2022 and 2023, the losses increased by more than 400%.

There are other parts of the gambling law that lotteries are excluded from. There is also a National Self Exclusion Register, Betstop, so the Australians who already have excluded themselves from other forms of online gambling still have the opportunity to gamble up to $10.000 online by playing lotteries.

Cantwell added: “To effectively reduce gambling harm, consumer protection measures must exist across all forms of gambling. Otherwise, those at risk of harm will just move from one form of gambling to another less regulated type.”

Strict regulations

The industry is talking about the potential credit card ban from 2021. The RWA members collaborate with the federal government and financial institutions to deliver the best possible solutions when it comes to credit card bans and online gambling regulations. The institutions will continue to work hard on this, and the ban is supposed to be implemented in all online casinos in Australia within six months.

This is the newest regulation in the Australian market, but not the only one. Other prohibitions include banning external signage, reducing the cash-input limit, reducing the cap on machine entitlements, and others.

Source: Narayan, Niji, Australian Parliament Passes Legislation Banning Online Credit Card Betting”. European Gaming. December 7. 2023.

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Credit Card Gambling Ban Approved by Australian Lower House https://kenowizard.com/2023/11/16/credit-card-gambling-ban-approved-by-australian-lower-house/ https://kenowizard.com/2023/11/16/credit-card-gambling-ban-approved-by-australian-lower-house/#respond Thu, 16 Nov 2023 09:01:50 +0000 https://kenowizard.com/2023/11/16/credit-card-gambling-ban-approved-by-australian-lower-house/ The Australian House of Representatives, the lower house of the country’s parliament, has passed a bill that would ban the use of credit cards for online gambling. The bill is called “The Interactive Gambling Amendment (Credit and Other Measures) Bill 2023” and it was submitted for approval in September. The bill would also ban the [...]

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australia-lower-house-passes-credit-card-gambling-ban-bill.The Australian House of Representatives, the lower house of the country’s parliament, has passed a bill that would ban the use of credit cards for online gambling. The bill is called “The Interactive Gambling Amendment (Credit and Other Measures) Bill 2023” and it was submitted for approval in September.

The bill would also ban the use of other credit-related products and digital currencies for gambling online in Australia. The bill did produce a significant debate in the Australian parliament, with members of the lower house introducing several amendments. Eventually the amendments were not approved, and the bill passed on November 14 after having received support from both major parties. The debate is not over yet, though, as the bill will move forward to the Australian Senate, the upper house of parliament.

More Measures Included

The bill does not only deal with the use of credit cards for gambling online, it also includes other important measures such as significant fines for casino operators that fail to properly enforce the ban. These fines can go all the way up to 234,750 Australian dollars, which would roughly convert into almost 150,000 U.S. dollars.

The bill would also give the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) new powers, including enforcing penalty provisions and issuing penalties for those that break the law. There will be a six-month transition period before the bill would come into full effect, enough time for operators, payment providers and players to adjust to the new rules.

Before submitting this bill to parliament the Australian government consulted with several stakeholders, including harm reduction advocates, online casino and sports betting operators and banking payment organizations.

In Line with Land-Based Gambling

The move would eventually lead to Australia’s online gambling sector getting in line with land-based operations, where gambling with credit cards is already banned. The debate regarding applying this rule to online gambling has been going on for several years.

In November 2021, recommendations to this effect were made by the parliamentary joint committee on corporations and financial services. Before that, in December 2019, the Australian Banking Association (ABA) held a consultation on the use of credit cards in gambling. Some banks decided to act before the government and put in place their own prohibition on using credit cards to gamble. Bank Australia for instance announced in October 2021 that all account holders would no longer be able to use its credit cards for gambling.

In the spring of 2020 such a ban was introduced in Great Britain, and that led to an increase in calls for the Australian government to settle the issue. Online casino and sports betting operators which are members of Responsible Wagering Australia, including Bet365, Betfair and Entain, expressed their support for such a ban.

Source: “Australia lower house passes credit card gambling ban bill“. iGaming Business. November 14, 2023.

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Former Australian MP Jailed for Gambling with Taxpayer Money https://kenowizard.com/2023/10/25/former-australian-mp-jailed-for-gambling-with-taxpayer-money/ https://kenowizard.com/2023/10/25/former-australian-mp-jailed-for-gambling-with-taxpayer-money/#respond Wed, 25 Oct 2023 12:30:58 +0000 https://kenowizard.com/2023/10/25/former-australian-mp-jailed-for-gambling-with-taxpayer-money/ Former Australian MP Russell Northe was slapped with a prison sentence after using his position to gamble with taxpayer money. The court handed the ex-politician a 21-month sentence in spite of his ongoing mental health problems. Northe is a former Victorian MP who became a member of the Nationals’ parliament in 2006. However, he left [...]

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Former Australian MP Russell Northe was slapped with a prison sentence after using his position to gamble with taxpayer money. The court handed the ex-politician a 21-month sentence in spite of his ongoing mental health problems.

Northe is a former Victorian MP who became a member of the Nationals’ parliament in 2006. However, he left the party in 2017 because of mental health problems. Despite that, he didn’t quit politics and was elected as an independent a year later.

As an independent, Northe was allowed to use taxpayer money to cover expenses. Unfortunately, the 57-year-old man couldn’t resist the temptation that access to such money offered and misused it to gamble.

According to the lawsuit, the former MP created fake invoices and bank statements in an effort to cover up his tracks. Over two years, he claimed AUD 173,400 (roughly $109,900 in USD) in fraudulent expenses. Northe directed the money to his Tabcorp and Ladbrokes accounts and lost all of it by placing thousands of losing bets.

Northe was originally charged with this crime in September, following an investigation by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC). A year later, the man pleaded guilty to two charges of misconduct in public office.

Northe’s Addiction Was Caused by Stress and Isolation

Northe’s gambling problem was likely due to the mental health problems he experienced. Described as a sophisticated man by Judge Michael McInerney, the ex-MP struggled with isolation because of his position.

Northe was notably geographically isolated from his family, causing him to develop addictive tendencies. He incurred further stress because of Australian wildfires, which worsened his condition. Despite being described as a hardworking MP, Northe eventually became addicted to alcohol and gambling.

Unfortunately, the defendant was not a very good gambler either, eventually racking up debts totaling $400,000 ($253,500 in USD).

Northe’s condition caused further concerns about his sentence. Christin Tom, the former MP’s lawyer, pointed out that the sentence may worsen Northe’s condition. However, Judge McInerney pointed out that these mitigating factors had been taken into consideration. In addition, the former MP will have to serve a minimum of 12 months in prison before being eligible for parole.

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S&P Global Says Australian Operators Shouldn’t Count on Chinese Tourists for Revenue https://kenowizard.com/2023/10/07/sp-global-says-australian-operators-shouldnt-count-on-chinese-tourists-for-revenue/ https://kenowizard.com/2023/10/07/sp-global-says-australian-operators-shouldnt-count-on-chinese-tourists-for-revenue/#respond Sat, 07 Oct 2023 16:28:46 +0000 https://kenowizard.com/2023/10/07/sp-global-says-australian-operators-shouldnt-count-on-chinese-tourists-for-revenue/ Australia’s casino gaming market has long depended on rich Chinese tourists for some extra income. With gambling prohibited in most of China, Australia has long been a preferred destination for gambling tourism. However, China’s recent hurdles with COVID forced this revenue stream to shut down for a while. While the zero-COVID policy is no more [...]

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Australia’s casino gaming market has long depended on rich Chinese tourists for some extra income. With gambling prohibited in most of China, Australia has long been a preferred destination for gambling tourism.

However, China’s recent hurdles with COVID forced this revenue stream to shut down for a while. While the zero-COVID policy is no more and direct flights between the two countries have been resumed, it will likely take a while before Australia’s casino operators can again count on Chinese tourists.

According to business analytics specialist S&P Global, the influx of Chinese customers is unlikely to return to pre-pandemic levels earlier than 12-18 months from now. According to the firm, this slow recovery is due to China’s stagnating economy and the Chinese people’s trend to prefer shorter journeys.

S&P analysts Aras Poon, Shawn Park and Tristan Ong said expect that Chinese customers will eventually start to return, although this is likely to take over a year.

The experts also warned that recovery will not be homogeneous across businesses in the Asia-Pacific region, with most companies set to return to pre-pandemic levels in a year or two.

Australian Companies Breached Laws to Capitalize on Chinese Tourists

Australia’s gambling market used to depend on rich Chinese customers for some extra income. However, local operators eventually cut their ties to Chinese junked operators.

Eventually, local regulators probed into the businesses of companies, such as Star Entertainment and Crown Resorts, which formerly partnered with such companies. The two Australian casino & hospitality giants were found guilty of multiple breaches of their states’ gambling regulations, prompting a long period of investigations.

One of the two companies even sported an unregulated gambling cage where VIP customers, including affluent Chinese nationals, could gamble. Both companies also allowed Chinese customers to gamble using UnionPay debit cards, which is a stark violation of China’s laws. This fraud was made possible by Star and Crown’s rigging of paper trails.

Some have suggested that the shutdown of such illegal activities may also be responsible for the slowdown of tourism from China.

At the same time, China seeks to prevent its citizens from gambling as a whole, which may mean bad news for Australian companies holding out for an influx of Chinese tourists.

In any case, as S&P analysts have suggested, Australian operators will have to secure additional revenue streams if they are to face the increasing regulatory headwinds in the country.

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IMG Renews Media Rights Deal with Australian Professional Leagues https://kenowizard.com/2023/09/18/img-renews-media-rights-deal-with-australian-professional-leagues/ https://kenowizard.com/2023/09/18/img-renews-media-rights-deal-with-australian-professional-leagues/#respond Mon, 18 Sep 2023 21:15:55 +0000 https://kenowizard.com/2023/09/18/img-renews-media-rights-deal-with-australian-professional-leagues/ Global sports & culture company IMG has extended its exclusive international media, data and streaming rights partnership agreement with the Australian Professional Leagues (APL). Under the extended partnership, IMG will distribute APL media rights for several more years. The partnership extension will allow the sports specialist to manage APL’s media rights in international markets, excluding [...]

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Global sports & culture company IMG has extended its exclusive international media, data and streaming rights partnership agreement with the Australian Professional Leagues (APL). Under the extended partnership, IMG will distribute APL media rights for several more years.

The partnership extension will allow the sports specialist to manage APL’s media rights in international markets, excluding Australia and New Zealand. At the same time, IMG’s IMG ARENA brand will record and provide official data from all APL matches over, supplying it to its extensive network of partnering sports betting operators.

The renewed contract covers both ALP’s men’s and women’s teams, allowing the APL to grow its presence. The league explained that the partnership with IMG will help it “drive audience and commercial growth” for some of the most highly-anticipated events of the seasons.

A-Leagues commissioner Nick Garcia commented on the extension of APL’s partnership with IMG, highlighting its potential to promote Australian and New Zealander soccer.  Garcia said that his team is looking forward to continuing the partnership with IMG, tapping into the global sports company’s extensive expertise in sports and benefitting from its expansive global network.

Garcia added that the A-Leagues are home to a variety of international soccer talents. He noted:

With three new women’s teams in the A-League Women, and two men’s teams to come to the A-League Men, we have more football, more goals, and more stories for fans to connect with.

Nick Garcia, commissioner, A-Leagues

In the meantime, Dale Levin, senior vice president and head of Australasia and Southeast Asia for IMG’s media business, also commented on the matter. He said that his team is very proud of its lasting relationship with the Australian Professional Leagues. According to Levin, the partnership has allowed the leagues to grow significantly over the past six years.

Earlier this year, IMG ARENA expanded its partnership with Major League Soccer, agreeing to supply tracking data for MLS Next Pro, a major soccer league in the United States and Canada.

In April, IMG ARENA also wrapped up its acquisition of the high-end virtual games provider Leap Gaming. The deal was officially announced in December 2022 and allows IMG ARENA to enhance its offering. IMG ARENA president Freddie Longe remarked that the acquisition will allow his company to “shape the future of sports betting entertainment.”

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Australian MPs ask for a blanket ban on all gambling adverts to be phased in over three years https://kenowizard.com/2023/06/30/australian-mps-ask-for-a-blanket-ban-on-all-gambling-adverts-to-be-phased-in-over-three-years/ https://kenowizard.com/2023/06/30/australian-mps-ask-for-a-blanket-ban-on-all-gambling-adverts-to-be-phased-in-over-three-years/#respond Fri, 30 Jun 2023 13:44:15 +0000 https://kenowizard.com/2023/06/30/australian-mps-ask-for-a-blanket-ban-on-all-gambling-adverts-to-be-phased-in-over-three-years/ The government of Australia looks poised to ban all gambling advertising across all forms of media if it follows a scathing report compiled from a parliamentary inquiry into the subject. Over 30 recommendations are presented in the report, and several of them are focused on advertising and other ways to protect vulnerable persons. A committee on [...]

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australian_inquiry_suggests_federal_igaming_regulation_complete_ban_on_all_gambling_adsThe government of Australia looks poised to ban all gambling advertising across all forms of media if it follows a scathing report compiled from a parliamentary inquiry into the subject.

Over 30 recommendations are presented in the report, and several of them are focused on advertising and other ways to protect vulnerable persons. A committee on social policy and legal affairs in the House of Representatives took an in-depth look at problem gambling in the country, specifically among online gambling participants. One thing that makes the harsh assessment of the situation even more eye-opening is that the Australian government does not even allow for online casinos and licensed gambling is restricted mostly to sports and race betting.

Australians lose more per capita to online gambling than punters in any other country – while the government took in AU$1.60bn in taxes in 2022. Online gambling participation surged during the pandemic and continues above pre-pandemic levels.

Phazed-in Blanket Ban on All Forms of Gambling Advertisements

Among the proposals in the inquiry are an outright ban on all gambling advertisements in the country including those delivered over social media or other online portals directed at Australian players as well as all traditional media including newspapers, television, billboards, or any other message delivery system. Small local radio stations would be exempt until 2025 and dedicated racing channels would remain exempt.

The ban would be implemented in four steps over the next three years.

Recommendation 26
5.148
The Committee recommends the Australian Government, with the cooperation of the states and territories, implement a comprehensive ban on all forms of advertising for online gambling, to be introduced in four phases, over three years, commencing immediately.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese indicated that the government will take all of the recommendations under advisement.

Albanese said on ABC Gold Coast radio: “We need to deal with online issues, we need to deal with social media issues, we need to deal with it comprehensively across the board.”

Committee Chair, Peta Murphy, said in the summary, “Australians outspend the citizens of every other country on online gambling. This is wreaking havoc in our communities. Saturation advertising ensures our future losses. Only online wagering service providers (WSPs), major sporting organisations and media gain from the status quo. This inquiry heard evidence from gamblers who lost and were encouraged by WSPs to gamble more; and from those who won and were prevented from gambling further. Any business model which encourages harm deserves to be closely scrutinised.”

The title of the inquiry was changed about a month after it was adopted by the committee in late 2022 and an invitation to comment was changed to include “people with lived experience of gambling harm to participate,” which indicates the direction it had been headed from nearly the beginning. One month later the written comment period ended.

The final working title is: “You win some, you lose more” and the introduction to the inquiry report is titled as follows: “Inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on those experiencing gambling harm”.

The report can be read in its entirety or downloaded in separate segments here.

Membership of the Committee was comprised of the following:

Committee Chair and Members

Chair
Ms Peta Murphy MP
Australian Labor Party, Dunkley VIC

Deputy Chair
Mr Pat Conaghan MP
The Nationals, Cowper NSW

Member
Ms Kate Chaney MP
Independent, Curtin WA

Member
Ms Mary Doyle MP
Australian Labor Party, Aston VIC

Member
Mr Sam Lim MP
Australian Labor Party, Tangney WA

Member
Ms Louise Miller-Frost MP
Australian Labor Party, Boothby SA

Member
Hon Shayne Neumann MP
Australian Labor Party, Blair QLD

Member
Ms Jenny Ware MP
Liberal Party of Australia, Hughes NSW

Member
Mr Keith Wolahan MP
Liberal Party of Australia, Menzies VIC

The inquiry allowed “both sides” of the issues to be presented and gave opposing views provided by researchers, consumer advocates, and stakeholders, including those in social gambling realms which some parts of the inquiry defined as “targeting children”.

While some researchers have indicated that any causality between social gaming and real money problem gambling or between advertising and gambling harm is “tenuous at best”, some strong arguments were presented on the “prohibition” side of the equation with scholarly research to back them up as well.

In trying to determine whether or not to make changes to the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, the MPs came up with a list of possible changes needed to social gaming, loot boxes, and “skin gambling” that may look like better casino training for children by exposing them to responsible gambling measures as employed in various jurisdictions for real money gambling. These include the following:

  • Display the odds for winning each prize
  • Provide loot box contents at a fixed and reasonable price so players do not need to chase desired items
  • Fix odds of loot boxes so that different odds cannot be offered to different players based on their playing or spending patterns
  • Fix sets of prizes
  • List prizes and prices in real money terms
  • Include an age verification system
  • Allow players to track expenditure
  • Allow players to self-exclude from games

Pushback on Total Gambling Ad Ban

Responsible Wagering Australia (RWA) represents the country’s largest real-money gambling operators, In a statement, the trade organization called on the government to take a more balanced approach than an outright ban. The ban recommendation did not include evidentiary reasoning according to the group’s CEO, Kai Cantwell who stated in an industry response:
“RWA members, along with broadcasters and major sporting codes have publicly acknowledged that there is a growing desire in the community to see less gambling advertising..

However, blanket bans, even in a phased roll-out, are short-sighted, ineffective and are not the answer.

Cantwell continued, “We know that strict changes – like blanket bans and banning inducements, such as bonus bets – often prove ineffective in addressing problem gambling, with Australians instead turning to illegal offshore markets as they seek out these options.”

Would Federalized Regulation Open the Door for Online Casinos?

In Australia, gambling is regulated and licensed at the state level, not federally. Under the current law and system, although online casinos would be completely legal today if licensed in a state or territory, none have taken it upon themselves to do so. However, no federal law exists to discourage residents from gambling offshore – they are free to do so if they choose to.

It’s unclear if the committee’s recommendation to change the regulation and licensing to the federal level would encourage stronger advocacy for the licensing and regulation of online casinos or further complicate it for prospective operators as all of the opponents of online casino gambling would remain in play with a slightly different power dynamic, and any advocates would face the same opposition as they do at the state level along with a unified voice if the national mood of politicians were to be against it.

A Single Federal Online Gambling Harm Ombudsman?

The inquiry suggests that a single minister should handle gambling harm mitigation at the federal level. It also suggests that there should be new taxes levied on existing operators to fund gambling harm specifically, a public education campaign on gambling harm reduction, and a harsher crackdown on unlicensed offshore operators. A ban on deposit incentives or inducements such as bonuses would come into effect if all recommendations were put in place.

Source: Australia mulls gambling ad ban after report, iGaming Business, June 28, 2023

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Inquiry Shows Australian Sportsbooks Might Be Restricting Lucky Players https://kenowizard.com/2023/04/05/inquiry-shows-australian-sportsbooks-might-be-restricting-lucky-players/ https://kenowizard.com/2023/04/05/inquiry-shows-australian-sportsbooks-might-be-restricting-lucky-players/#respond Wed, 05 Apr 2023 10:57:18 +0000 https://kenowizard.com/2023/04/05/inquiry-shows-australian-sportsbooks-might-be-restricting-lucky-players/ Australia has slammed some of its biggest sportsbooks over their alleged tendency to restrict winning players’ activity. Amid an ongoing inquiry into the impacts of online gambling, some sportsbooks admitted to limiting transactions and deposits in certain cases. The inquiry was launched last year as Australia seeks to better understand iGaming and how it affects [...]

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Australia has slammed some of its biggest sportsbooks over their alleged tendency to restrict winning players’ activity. Amid an ongoing inquiry into the impacts of online gambling, some sportsbooks admitted to limiting transactions and deposits in certain cases.

The inquiry was launched last year as Australia seeks to better understand iGaming and how it affects problem gamblers. The inquiry’s main goal is to determine whether the current regulations are sufficient to protect Australian players from harm.

Sportsbet Restricts Players Who Have an Advantage

As reported by Inside Asian Gaming, Barni Evans, the chief executive officer of Sportsbet, addressed the matter in a tense discussion with committee chair Peta Murphy.

Evans listed a few reasons why Sportsbet may ban a customer or set limits to their transactions. For example, the sportsbook will always intervene if it determines that a player is betting on behalf of other individuals. In addition, customers who are using “privileged information” to gain an edge will also be subjected to interventions.

Evans added that customers on a cooling period between setting deposit limits will not be allowed to make transactions. If such people are betting into highly illiquid volatile markets, Sportsbet will reduce the stake they can make. Finally, if a customer exhibits signs of gambling harm, Sportsbet will once again intervene.

Murphy then asked directly whether Sportsbet would limit players who are winning consistently. Evans admitted that while Sportsbet is not opposed to “mathematically gifted customers,” it seeks to look after the majority of its customers and will restrict players who are using privileged information.

Evans, however, claimed that Sportsbet would never limit the activity of players who are not using privileged information.

Entain Sometimes Imposes Restrictions on Some Customers

The inquiry also questioned Steven Lang, Entain’s director of regulatory strategy and safer gambling. He said that when customers are betting on an Australian racing event, his company cannot apply any restrictions. However, when it comes to other events, Entain may impose some restrictions “on a small number of customers.”

Lang confirmed that this does happen from time to time.

Despite what Evans claimed, Nick Minchin, chair of Responsible Wagering Australia, said it still seems that some customers have been blocked simply because they were winning too often. Even if this is the case, he added that this does not seem to be a standard practice that has been adopted by all companies.

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