Australian Government Restrictions To Sports Betting

A few of my readers have asked me why certain promotions are no longer available to them. They are now regretting not taking up the offer before it was unfairly, what they believe, removed from their grasp. The short answer is it all has to do with the new Australian Government restrictions. Being affiliated with the sports betting agencies I represent they’ve all sent me emails to ensure that I am complying with the new Government restrictions. Here is part of the one sent to me from Sportingbet.

Government Restrictions In Sports Betting

Dear Affiliate,

Important Notice to Affiliates in relation to change in Copy and Creative – Government Restrictions

As you may be aware, legislation in New South Wales and South Australia prohibits gambling advertising considered to be offering inducements to bet and/or to open betting accounts.

Similar legislation prohibiting the advertising of inducements to open a betting account exists in the states of Victoria and Western Australia.

To ensure that the requirements of the various state and territory legislation are complied with, Sportingbet and Centrebet have updated its creative and copy relating to promotions.

Please ensure that you are using the most recent Sportingbet and Centrebet creative and copy on your websites.

The image shows the affected states for the latest Government restrictions to sports betting.
Australian Government Restrictions To Sports Betting

Is Sports Betting Legal In Australia?

The answer to this is yes. As Aussies we’re lucky enough to be allowed to gamble on the Internet. While online gambling is legal in Australia I’m sure the Government restrictions are there to protect problem gamblers. However, I very much doubt it will do any good. Still, the guys from Canberra have to be seen as trying to do the right thing.

Personally I don’t believe these restriction will prevent people from signing on with any of the online betting agencies. People who want to be able to place a bet online will join regardless of whether or not any incentive is offered. All this legislation will do is rip off the poor Aussies who live in those restricted States. These offers are merely there to entice prospective new customers to join one particular online betting agency over another. All this legislation does is remove one factor of the competitiveness between online bookies.

So in essence government legislation affects Australian gambling operators more than it does the punters. One way punters are affected though is in regards to live bets. While we can go online to bet on sports we are not allowed to place any live bets online. Aussie punters can only do this by using the phone. While I’m sure this inconvenience will stop some punters from live betting it won’t affect the serious punter at all.

Aussies Love To Bet

I’m sure that the Aussies love of betting is only part of the reason why the Government does not ban gambling all together. They know Aussies would not stand for it. Not to mention doing so would hurt Government revenue and that’s something they would never do.

While the Australian Government overseas all forms of gambling, both online and offline, individual states have their own rules. In case you’re interested here are each States respective gambling rules.

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