Australia Flashback
Australian Gaming Firms Not So Keen On Outsiders...
An established online betting operator is calling on any legislation on exotic gambling options to also include a toughening up of controls on online casino poker offerings.
Australia's "big four" online gambling brands: Betfair, Sportsbet, Centrebet and Sportingbet last month backed proposed new measures to stamp out match-fixing in sport.
However, Betfair chief exec top brass Andrew Twaits said online poker websites, which he says cost the industry hundreds of millions of dollars annually, should also be part of new legislation.
"While it is pleasing to see both the federal and state governments taking the integrity of betting in sports seriously and on a united front, the present legislation is clearly not working when it comes to online poker," Twaits said.
"Online sports betting in this country turns over $300 million a year, is highly regulated and we pay our taxes, while operators of online poker sites are not, many of which are controlled and run offshore.
"That's the real challenge facing not just the federal and state governments of this country, but governments across the globe.
"It is estimated that the turnover in this and other forms of illegal betting is $125 billion worldwide. That's why as an industry we welcome any tightening of the present legislation in this country of the Victorian Integrated Gambling Act.
"The sooner the rest of the states and territories fall into line the better it will be for everyone."
A lot of the concerns relate to preserving the integrity of sporting events.
There's a push to employ full-time supervisors to scrutinise betting trends. The AFL employs an integrity officer.
The coalition represents the NRL, AFL, ARU, Cricket Australia, FFA, Netball and Tennis.
"The NRL could take a leaf out of the AFL's book on this issue. They seem to be dragging the chain a little," Sullivan told the press.
"We've seen on the issue arising from the North Queensland investigation that the checks and balances we as an industry already have in place actually do work.
"As for the NRL asking for an industry-wide ban on exotic bets, that's fine, but our figures show that the average bet on the first and last tryscorer is just $9.
"That wouldn't buy you a schooner of beer in some pubs in Fremantle.
"Betting on cricket matches in this country isn't a problem. The trouble starts with the sheer weight of money bet on games in India and Pakistan where the industry is either illegal or nowhere near as regulated as you find it here in Australia.
"All we are asking for as a collective is a level playing field."
Websites such such as Betdaq are understood to weaken the potential influence and authority of last month's commitment between the federal government, the state sport ministers and the major Australian sports to agree to national legislation to police integrity issues in sport.
The meeting agreed to a multi-pronged attack on corruption.
A news release from Arbib's department said the key features of the policy were:
*Legal arrangements and integrity agreements between sports and betting companies which will include requirements to share information, provide sports with a right to veto bet types and provide a financial return from sports betting to sports;
*The establishment of a National Integrity of Sport Unit to oversee the national arrangements and provide support for smaller sports;
*Agreement to pursue nationally consistent legislative arrangements;
*The adoption of codes of conduct by sports, and;
*Government funding will be contingent on sports implementing appropriate anti-match-fixing and anti-corruption policies and practices.
The national strategy will be put in front of the state attorneys-general for discussion next month.
However, the limits of that national code to police corruption in sport if offshore bookmakers and betting exchanges offer services to Australian punters are manifest if those betting agencies are not licensed in this country.
Licensing agreements with racing bodies and sporting codes ensure the betting agencies pay a fee for the right to use the racefields and fixtures but also agree to co-operate fully with authorities if they become aware of any suspicious betting patterns or unauthorised sports people or officials placing bets.
The chief executive of Racing Victoria Rob Hines and his NSW counterpart Peter V'landys were unaware on Wednesday that Betdaq was operating on their race meetings.
The AFL, too, did not know that the betting exchange was wagering on its competition.
In effect, the website was not monitored.
Betdaq still had markets for the premiership winner in the AFL and NRL presumably because those bets are not on the fixtures themselves and punters would have already placed bets in good faith.
The Betdaq spokesman indicated that no other sport bets would be taken and relevant markets would be removed.
Hines said he had been told by his integrity services department a letter had been sent to Betdaq warning it of the dangers - a $60,000 fine every day an unlicensed agency bets on racefields - but had received no reply. Betdaq also offers Australians the opportunity to gamble on only casino poker online.
Australian Gaming Firms Not So Keen On Outsiders...
An established online betting operator is calling on any legislation on exotic gambling options to also include a toughening up of controls on online casino poker offerings.
Australia's "big four" online gambling brands: Betfair, Sportsbet, Centrebet and Sportingbet last month backed proposed new measures to stamp out match-fixing in sport.
However, Betfair chief exec top brass Andrew Twaits said online poker websites, which he says cost the industry hundreds of millions of dollars annually, should also be part of new legislation.
"While it is pleasing to see both the federal and state governments taking the integrity of betting in sports seriously and on a united front, the present legislation is clearly not working when it comes to online poker," Twaits said.
"Online sports betting in this country turns over $300 million a year, is highly regulated and we pay our taxes, while operators of online poker sites are not, many of which are controlled and run offshore.
"That's the real challenge facing not just the federal and state governments of this country, but governments across the globe.
"It is estimated that the turnover in this and other forms of illegal betting is $125 billion worldwide. That's why as an industry we welcome any tightening of the present legislation in this country of the Victorian Integrated Gambling Act.
"The sooner the rest of the states and territories fall into line the better it will be for everyone."
A lot of the concerns relate to preserving the integrity of sporting events.
There's a push to employ full-time supervisors to scrutinise betting trends. The AFL employs an integrity officer.
The coalition represents the NRL, AFL, ARU, Cricket Australia, FFA, Netball and Tennis.
"The NRL could take a leaf out of the AFL's book on this issue. They seem to be dragging the chain a little," Sullivan told the press.
"We've seen on the issue arising from the North Queensland investigation that the checks and balances we as an industry already have in place actually do work.
"As for the NRL asking for an industry-wide ban on exotic bets, that's fine, but our figures show that the average bet on the first and last tryscorer is just $9.
"That wouldn't buy you a schooner of beer in some pubs in Fremantle.
"Betting on cricket matches in this country isn't a problem. The trouble starts with the sheer weight of money bet on games in India and Pakistan where the industry is either illegal or nowhere near as regulated as you find it here in Australia.
"All we are asking for as a collective is a level playing field."
Websites such such as Betdaq are understood to weaken the potential influence and authority of last month's commitment between the federal government, the state sport ministers and the major Australian sports to agree to national legislation to police integrity issues in sport.
The meeting agreed to a multi-pronged attack on corruption.
A news release from Arbib's department said the key features of the policy were:
*Legal arrangements and integrity agreements between sports and betting companies which will include requirements to share information, provide sports with a right to veto bet types and provide a financial return from sports betting to sports;
*The establishment of a National Integrity of Sport Unit to oversee the national arrangements and provide support for smaller sports;
*Agreement to pursue nationally consistent legislative arrangements;
*The adoption of codes of conduct by sports, and;
*Government funding will be contingent on sports implementing appropriate anti-match-fixing and anti-corruption policies and practices.
The national strategy will be put in front of the state attorneys-general for discussion next month.
However, the limits of that national code to police corruption in sport if offshore bookmakers and betting exchanges offer services to Australian punters are manifest if those betting agencies are not licensed in this country.
Licensing agreements with racing bodies and sporting codes ensure the betting agencies pay a fee for the right to use the racefields and fixtures but also agree to co-operate fully with authorities if they become aware of any suspicious betting patterns or unauthorised sports people or officials placing bets.
The chief executive of Racing Victoria Rob Hines and his NSW counterpart Peter V'landys were unaware on Wednesday that Betdaq was operating on their race meetings.
The AFL, too, did not know that the betting exchange was wagering on its competition.
In effect, the website was not monitored.
Betdaq still had markets for the premiership winner in the AFL and NRL presumably because those bets are not on the fixtures themselves and punters would have already placed bets in good faith.
The Betdaq spokesman indicated that no other sport bets would be taken and relevant markets would be removed.
Hines said he had been told by his integrity services department a letter had been sent to Betdaq warning it of the dangers - a $60,000 fine every day an unlicensed agency bets on racefields - but had received no reply. Betdaq also offers Australians the opportunity to gamble on only casino poker online.
