Australian politician introduces private member action following Victoria’s approval of Tabcorp deal.
Wednesday 18th June 2008
In Australia, a Liberal Party politician has introduced a private member’s Bill to stop interactive gambling through pay-television after becoming angered at the Federal Government's refusal to intervene in the state of Victoria.
Bruce Billson, Communications Spokesperson for the opposition Liberal Party, said that he was concerned about the despair, economic and emotional hardships caused by problem gambling in Victoria and that his Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill 2008 would directly affect Two-Way TV, a company that recently signed a deal with Victorian wagering group Tabcorp and pay-TV group Foxtel to provide interactive betting through the Sky Racing channel.
'Pay-TV gambling has commenced in Victoria with racing and many suspect it is just a matter of time before pressure mounts to extend it to betting on football codes, other sports and even in virtual casinos across the country,' said the Member of Parliament.
'This private member's Bill was motivated by the failure of the Rudd Labor Government to act to stop an insidious new form of pay-television gambling. It seeks to prohibit the roll-out of new gambling technology in the form of subscription television based interactive gambling and rejects the suggestion by proponents and gambling revenue-addicted state Labor governments that this new form of gambling is no big deal and is simply an extension of telephone and Internet betting.'
The Bill from the centre-right politician also calls on the Government to review the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, which allows wagering over the phone or Internet.
'The Bill makes it absolutely clear that the limited exemption to current interactive gambling prohibitions, permitting wagering over the phone or Internet, does not allow for interactive subscription television gambling with all the sound, sights and stimuli of race day in the family lounge,' said Billson.
In Australia, a Liberal Party politician has introduced a private member’s Bill to stop interactive gambling through pay-television after becoming angered at the Federal Government's refusal to intervene in the state of Victoria.