Australian Parliament rubber stamps IGA Bill
Legislation expected to come into force week commencing 11 September after Senate approved an amendment on credit betting
Australia’s Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill 2016 (IGA Bill) is expected to come into force next month after the Bill was finally rubber stamped today by both Houses of Parliament.
The IGA Bill, which aims to clarify rules on offshore wagering, including the ban on online poker and in-play ‘click-to-call’ betting, was passed by the Senate this morning and will be sent to the Governor-General for Royal Assent.
The legislation is expected to receive Royal Assent next week and will then come into force the week commencing 11 September 2017.
Online poker operators have been heading for the exit door in recent months ahead of the legislation which aims to end any ambiguity surrounding the legality of the vertical.
Senators approved the Bill despite some disagreement over amendments proposed by the government, including an exemption on the prohibition of credit betting for on-course bookmakers.
Online gambling operators with annual wagering turnover of less than AU$30m are also exempt from the ban on credit betting.
Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill 2016 has now been agreed to by both Houses. It will now be sent to the Governor-General for Royal Assent
— Australian Senate (@AuSenate) August 9, 2017
“Senator David Leyonhjelm of the Liberal Democrats remained a defiant critic of the IGA Bill,” Jamie Nettleton, a partner at Sydney-based law firm Addisons, said.
Nettleton added: “He stated that online poker should not have been made unlawful by the IGA Bill, as it was not as harmful as other forms of gambling which will be lawful.
“He urged the government to reconsider its position on online poker and to enact the recommendations of the Environment and Communications References Committee (Committee) inquiry into the ‘Participation of Australians in Online Poker’.”
The committee is due to report its findings on 14 September 2017.