SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
As Australian regulators undertake a review of the 2001 Interactive Gambling Act (IGA), the Coalition of Major Professional and Participation Sports (COMPPS) which represents leading national sports bodies has urged the government to lift its ban on in-play betting.
COMPPS, seven members include the codes of Australian Football, Cricket Australia, NetBall Australia, Tennis Australia and the National Rugby League.
The organisation has urged regulators re-drafting the gambling act to allow for in-play betting in order to combat the consumer appeal of unlicensed offshore bookmakers. The organisation has stated that this is the preferred stance of its represented bodies.
The in-play debate has ruled 2015’s Australian market agenda, with UK bookmakers William Hill, and Ladbrokes being investigated by the Australian Communications & Media Authority (ACMA) for breaching regulations by utilising ‘click to call’ services which mirrored in-play betting functionalities.
In October William Hill Australia won its legal battle to keep the controversial ‘Click to Call’ betting feature, after a review by the Federal Police found that the service did not breach national gambling regulations.
William Hill’s victory has led to industry commentators questioning the overall validity of prohibiting in-play betting services.
Industry stakeholders had further pointed that Australian online betting laws were in dire need of redrafting as bookmaker technologies’ had long surpassed regulatory contexts and conditions.
COMPPS’ support for domestic online in-play sports mirrors the recent position of the Australian Wagering Council in favour of change.
