Australian Government to Target Illegal Offshore Bookmakers

AUS GOVERNMENT TO TARGET ILLEGAL OFFSHORE BOOKMAKERS 
A national working group will be established by Australia’s federal government to tackle illegal offshore wagering on racing and sports. The Illegal Offshore Wagering Working Group will be established under the Australian Government’s Gambling Industry Advisory Council and will include representatives from the racing industry, professional sports and wagering organizations. 
“There are significant numbers of illegitimate offshore operators already targeting Australian racing 
and sport and it is vital that an effective regulatory regime be introduced to address the serious integrity and revenue risks that they pose,” said Federal Minister for Social Services Kevin Andrews. “It is also important to discourage any Australian-based operators being tempted to relocate offshore in order to avoid the obligations to racing and sporting bodies that they face under existing Australian laws.” 
Victoria Premier and Minister for Racing Denis Napthine noted that paying product fees is in the long-term best interest of the bookmakers. 
“Wagering revenue streams are important contributors to the funding of racing and sports facilities, implementation of integrity measures, prize money and participant payments and other operational 
costs,” he said. “It is unfair that legitimate Australian-based and registered bookmakers pay the product fee required of them by racing and sports bodies while offshore bookmakers effectively pirate 
Australian product. Offshore bookmakers also refuse to adhere to integrity measures that are fundamental to the honest operation of the racing and sporting events. The working group will be asked to examine the regulatory regimes in international jurisdictions that may have an application within Australia and to also look at all other technological and legislative options available.” 
The Australian Racing Board welcomed the announcement. 
“The ARB thanks and congratulates the Federal Government for its support of racing on this crucial issue,” said ARB Chief Executive Officer Peter McGauran. “We also pay tribute to the Premier of Victoria and Minister for Racing Dr Denis Napthine, who has long advocated action on this issue and his strong leadership has been crucial to the establishment of the Working Group. The problem of illegal offshore bookmakers has long been recognized, but the 
Commonwealth has previously refused to become involved on the basis that racing is a state-based industry. However, only the Commonwealth has the constitutional powers to address offshore wagering and the states have been floundering for years for a solution. We are delighted to now have the Commonwealth body through which a legislative 
solution to the problem can be implemented.”