The government of Australia under Prime Minister Scott Morrison has recently unveiled plans to push for legislation that aims to provide the necessary tools and processes for online gamblers to blacklist themselves from accessing online gambling sites. If it is passed, the legislation will lead to the establishment of what they are referring to as a National Self-Exclusion Register. The government is aiming at reducing the negative impacts of gambling on individuals especially with regards to gambling addiction.
A self-exclusion scheme has always been in the works. This is because it is one of the most important measures included in the government’s National Consumer Protection Framework. According to Families and Social Services Minister Anne Ruston, while the government aims to preserve its people’s ability and rights to place wagers, it is important to implement a few “sensible and targeted measures to prevent and support gamblers facing significant risks of harm.”
How Will It Work
The proposed self-exclusion register will be a voluntary scheme that any Australian will be able to be a part of. Once registered, the individuals will have to specify the period within which they want to be banned from online gambling. As stipulated in the proposal, the minimum self-exclusion duration will be three months. They will even be able to indefinitely ban themselves if they feel that they are better off without any form of gambling. All this will be possible through a very simple process.
“It is a measure that we believe will motivate gamblers to have periods where they do not gamble online at all as a way of changing their behavior and minimizing the risk they face of gambling-related harm,” the minister said.
To better protect the individuals who will have registered on the National Self-Exclusion Register, the gambling operators will be banned from sending them direct advertisements or promotions. Moreover, once registered on the scheme, the operators will have to refund all the funds in active customer accounts. That is, once the gaming platform settles all bets or wagers. The gaming companies will also have to close the accounts after that.
Australia’s Gambling Problem
Australia has a thriving online gambling market. However, there have been a few issues with regards to illegal gambling operators and increased cases of gambling-related harm. These illegal gambling are one of the key contributors to gambling addiction. Case in point, Australians reportedly spend up to a whopping A$400 million on these illegal sites.
The country’s authorities have launched several efforts to crack down on the unauthorized gambling operators. For instance, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) which recently forced local ISPs to block the illegal sites. This has helped in reducing cases of gambling-related harm and, hopefully, the register will do the same.
