Should online gambling laws be relaxed?

Share This
+ Comment
10
The report suggests 30 changes, including banning micro-betting on sporting events, such as ball-by-ball bets in cricket or point-by-point bets in tennis, across all platforms.

The report suggests 30 changes, including banning micro-betting on sporting events, such as ball-by-ball bets in cricket or point-by-point bets in tennis, across all platforms.

An interim government report into online gambling proposes changes that would make it easier for Australians to place in-play bets online, and also provide some 'harm-minimisation' measures for gamblers.

Australians are estimated to spend up to $1 billion per year betting on illegal websites outside Australia. Betting agencies and sports bodies argue that regulating the industry will achieve greater harm minimisation, but gambling critics say any relaxation will only benefit online gambling sites, not problem gamblers. What do you think: should online gambling laws be relaxed?

Join the Discussion

Name
City / Suburb E.g. Artarmon, Sydney
Title
Comment
You have characters remaining.
Validation
What's this?
This is a captcha-picture. It is used to prevent mass-access by robots.
All submitted comments become the property of SBS. They are moderated, so we reserve the right to edit comments and remove HTML tags. Not all submitted comments will be published. Publication does not mean we endorse the opinions expressed. Please read our terms and conditions for more information.

Your Comments

Display: 20 | 40 | All comments per page
Previous 10 | Page 1 | Next 10

Mourning 400 Australian Gambling caused Deaths.

Timothy Coffey - from Dublin,Ireland, 11 months ago

11/07/2012 Dear Prime Minister Gillard, Warm greetings from your ‘cousins’ in Ireland, As a demonstration of humanity and public interest to the people of Australia and the World are you willing to mourn and honour along with us on the 20th April 2013 , those 400 Australians whom have died gambling caused deaths as stated by the Productivity Commission. I thank you for your kind answer, Yours Sincerely, Timothy Coffey Voluntary Manager GAMBLEPIE is a voluntary, ngo .

trust the internet ?.. sure can

whattha - from werribee, 12 months ago

This is a precursor by the gambling industry to enabling anyone anywhere to gamble their savings away (or their credit) via their mobile phone /ipad. Its effectively making every casino / horse track / lottery site as physically big as the continent / the world. If a casino cant control existing problem gamblers how on earth will the internet do it.

So what!

showerhead - from OZ, 12 months ago

How one controls the net is the question, not the gambler who spends his money anyway, his mind is out of control from normal thinking, but what is normal. SBS had a few years back stories about internet control, it seems it is not controllable.

Should online gambling laws be relaxed

Ol' Lady - from Perth WA , 12 months ago

Of course gambling laws should not be relaxed, apparently people cannot control their gambling urges causing greief & misery to their families & friends. Its the same as drinking & drug taking there has to be some control or else it just gets completely out of hand.

No! Gambling should be illegal, online and also in casinos

jason wander - from darwin, 12 months ago

It destroys individuals and families. The sheep eat the green grass, even if its poisoned. How can the government ignore this? Gambling should be banned completely in Australia and all Casinos closed down.

Mr

Michael supel - from Brisbane, 12 months ago

Of coarse they bloody shouldn't , it's a no brainer!!!

No way!

Paul - from Frankston, 12 months ago

This is another death wish from the Gillard Government. The argument has been trumpted-up by the Gambling Industry and plays to the Governments greed to raise revenue and meet their only remaining unbroken promise to balance the budget. All this at the expense of the vulnerable.

No,never,it should be totally banned

John - from Sydney, 12 months ago

I became bankrupt because of my gambling in star city casino.i lost three years of my valuable life and became a burden on taxpayers.please stop this gambling business in australia. In Germany locals are banned from entering local casinos.but our governments get satisfaction with the little tax paid by these white collar crime syndicates.and the social aspect of destruction of thousands of Australian families.it is as addictive as Heoin and Cocain.there are many Australians suffering severely.

NO

mark - from moonta, 12 months ago

no we are allready the worst gamblers on the planet and what safe guards are there for kids.lets try and solve problem gambling not encourage for the next generation.

they'll gamble anyway

michael - from rosebud, 12 months ago

No way. Gambling is loaded against the punter , but most punters are too stupid to understand this. If anything much tougher gambling laws should be introduced at all levels. However is someone is intent on committing financial suicide then no amount of barriers will stop them.

Display: 20 | 40 | All comments per page
Previous 10 | Page 1 | Next 10