Australian lawmakers signed a new piece of legislation last month which makes online casinos and online games, that include video poker, illegal in the country.
This legislation has now been followed by further restrictions from the government in Australia which has effectively banned all sign-up incentives that are usually used all over the globe in order to entice new customers to make bets with specific bookmakers.
Bookmakers that are likely be affected by these latest changes include Sportsbet, Ladbrokers, CrownBet, William Hill and bet365, among other leading brands.
The incentives that have been addressed by the Australian government include free bets that are often given out to existing customers for introducing their non-customer friends to join the bookie, as well as free bonuses.
The Australian government has claimed that problem gambling is the main reason behind the registration inducement ban. According to the Federal Human Services Minister for Australia, Alan Tudge, the reason for this is because online gambling addiction appears to be three times higher than for other, land-based gambling forms. The problem has led to Australia’s officials reaching an agreement on a number of new laws in April of this year. This included a countrywide self-exclusion database being set up, the banning of bookmakers providing credit lines and a scheme that would send bettors’ so-called activity statements being rolled out.
All of the above methods fall under the umbrella of responsible gambling guidelines and are already in place in a number of other countries.
Any online casino operator that breaches Australia’s Internet Gambling Amendment Bill could face a $5 million per day fine until the violations are rectified.