Racing Australia chief calls for in-play betting ban

Peter McGauran, chief executive of Racing Australia, has called for the country to introduce a blanket ban on in-play sports betting.

The live odds sector has been a major subject of debate in Australia in recent months, with operators such as Ladbrokes and William Hill having come under fire for offering such services.

The 2001 Interactive Gambling Act (IGA) states that while bets on live games can be taken at retail outlets or over the phone, operators cannot offer this service via the internet.

However, operators have argued against this regulation, claiming the distinction between online and telephone communications is now archaic and not in line with modern practice.

In an interview with The Australian newspaper, McGauran hit out at this stance, calling on the government to close this “loophole”.

Alan Tudge, Assistant Minister to the Australian Prime Minister, is currently in the process of preparing the government’s response to the review into online gambling legislation, which was published in December.

“We feel so strongly about the threat that in-play betting poses to integrity that we believe that the loophole in the Interactive Gambling Act that allows in-play betting on races should be closed,” McGauran said.

“It’s an integrity and an economic issue; there would be significant migration of revenue from traditional racing wagering to sports betting to in-play, which is mindless repetitions in front of a big screen that, for many, is reminiscent of poker machines.

“Apart from the clear and immediate threat to integrity from illegal online bookmaking, the revenue loss over time will significantly damage one of Australia’s leading industries and its 200,000 employees.”

Related article: Ladbrokes reactivates in-play betting services in Australia