@free bet 213714 wrote:
is this an attempt to force users into placing bets with Aussie based betting houses?
No – it’s not.
It’s illegal for Australian citizens to bet online on “micro-events” at any company.
So this covers a ban on casino, poker, and even live betting on sports events that are already in-play.
But it does not cover betting on horse races, and sports events that have yet to start which are perfectly legal for Australians to play – and to be advertised.
It’s quite convoluted and means that while Betfair are licensed for sports betting in Australia – and their specialty is actually in-play betting – they can only offer pre-match bets to Australian registered customers.
It’s been influenced a lot by anecdotal evidence from the real world of pubs, clubs, and casinos in Australia, where the addictive behaviour and real problem gambling (people blowing their life savings) has tended to be with “micro-event” devices such as the slot machines (aka pokies).
I think the argument goes something like the Government is concerned that while gambling is a staple part of Austraslian culture, they are worried that Australian players cannot control themselves and will bet too much and too often on these short duration micro-events.