Australia to allow online Poker & Sportsbook?

Australian online gambling sites may soon be allowed to bet on live sporting matches and offer real cash poker games. The gaming sites could run trials of both sportsbook & Poker within a year as the Federal Government tries to combat unregulated overseas gaming sites.

Documents have revealed the Federal Government recently briefed the Australian gaming industry on measures enabling online in-play betting.

Live betting, currently offered only by telephone and in person, could be a boom online industry – worth $300 million a year – given its accessibility on smartphones and tablets.

However this is in sharp contrast to the Government’s tough stance on advertising betting during sports televised events.

Betting during horse races is already offered by at least one gaming site, but it is not a popular option, given the brevity of races.
A recent gambling reform committee report recommended against legalising online poker and in-play betting, but said the live sports betting rules could be loosened to allow betting on end results live.

MP Andrew Wilkie supports legalising local casino-style gaming such as poker, roulette or blackjack on the basis of it being a lesser risk, as it would help punters avoid problems with overseas sites not paying Corporate teaxes.