By Ben Blaschke
A bid to save online poker from the scrapheap of Australia’s tough new online gambling regulations has reached parliament with The Australian Online Poker Alliance (AOPA) presenting its case to a special senate inquiry this week.
The Participation of Australians in Online Poker inquiry saw AOPA founder Joseph Del Duca, poker players Daniel Laidlaw, Oliver Gill, Luke Brabin and James Devine as well as maths professor Brian Alspach speak in support of regulating online poker, which is set to be banned completely under a recent amendment to Australia’s Interactive Gambling Act (2001).
Brabin, who also operates online poker site Poker Asia Pacific, became the first Australian fined (AU$10,000) for operating an illegal online gambling product under the new law earlier this year.
In its submission, The Australian Online Poker Alliance pointed to a 2015 review of illegal offshore wagering which lists poker as a casino game alongside table games such as blackjack and roulette, arguing that, “There is a major difference between poker and all of the other games listed under that definition.
“Poker is a ‘peer to peer’ game,” it said. “All of the other games listed are games where the player plays against the house. This is not the case in poker. A poker game comprises of individual players competing against each other. The house is not playing, it has no vested interest in who wins the hand … in our view this point is a key difference that needs to be understood when legislating in relation to poker.”
Efforts to legalize and regulate online poker in Australia have typically been frustrated by a widespread lack of understanding among lawmakers as to the game of poker itself, however Mr Del Duca told Inside Asian Gaming that senators showed a genuine intent to learn more during this week’s hearing.
“We appreciated that Senators present were interested in learning more about our game to ensure that they are well placed to make decisions in the interests of Australians who want to enjoy the hobby they love in a safe, legal environment,” he said. “It is even more clear after today that if we are serious about protecting freedom of choice for Australian citizens whilst ensuring help and protection is available for those that need it, then working towards a licensed and regulated online poker market is the right thing for our country.
“Today’s inquiry was a great example of democracy in action and we eagerly await the opportunity to work with the government to ensure a win-win result for all Australians is achieved.”
Also speaking independently was Dr Sally Gainsbury, Deputy Director at the Gambling Treatment and Research Clinic, who stated that the Interactive Gambling Act (2001) “must differentiate between various forms of online gambling and recognize that online gambling is not a homogenous activity but that different gambling opportunities pose different risks to players.”
The Participation of Australians in Online Poker inquiry is due to hand down its report by 21 September.
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