Media release – Andrew Wilkie MP, independent Member for Clark; Rebekha Sharkie MP, Independent Member for Mayo, 22 March 2023
Parliamentary group acts on gambling harm
Parliamentary Friends of Gambling Harm Reduction co-convenors, Independent Member for Clark Andrew Wilkie and Independent Member for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie, will discuss the group’s first event for the 47th Parliament and the need for meaningful gambling law reform.
Senators and Members will hear a testimony from Gavin Fineff, who has been impacted by gambling harm, read by his mother Lyn as Gavin is in custody. The parliamentary group will also hear from Harry, who was targeted by gambling companies from a young age and is still working to overcome the harm gambling has caused to his life and family.
WHEN: 4:30pm TODAY (Wednesday) 22 March 2023
WHERE: Mural Hall, Parliament House CANBERRA
Australians experience the world’s biggest gambling losses per capita, with an estimated $25 billion lost during 2018-19. Many of these people are vulnerable members of the community who are preyed upon by gambling providers.
In September last year, Mr Wilkie introduced his Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Amendment (Making Gambling Businesses Accountable) Bill 2022 in consultation with Mr Fineff. The Bill puts a positive obligation on gambling companies to report to AUSTRAC if they have reason to suspect a person is paying for a gambling service with money they’ve obtained illegally.
“The testimonies that we’ve heard today are a powerful reminder of the urgent need for reform of the gambling industry in Australia,” Mr Wilkie said. “The brutal reality is that many tens of thousands of Australians are addicted to gambling, in particular poker machines and online betting, and it’s a terrible reflection on federal, state and territory governments that this is allowed to continue unchecked.
“On the poker machine front, the mandatory cashless pre-commitment card announced in Tasmania and promised by the current New South Wales Government is a very positive development and must be realised. But other jurisdictions must follow suit and the Federal Government must be prepared to intervene if they don’t.
“Regarding online gambling, advertising must be reined in or banned altogether. Moreover gambling companies must be linked in real time to ensure that daily loss limits are effective across all apps.”
Today, Ms Sharkie announced that she will be introducing her Interactive Gambling Amendment (Credit Card Ban and Acknowledgement of Losses) Bill 2023 to ban credit for regulated interactive wagering services.
“With Australians struggling with the cost of living – many of them impacted by gambling debt – the Government has now had plenty of time to act on recommendations of the previous Parliament’s Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services to ban the use of credit for online gambling,” Ms Sharkie said.
“Smartphones allow people to access interactive wagering services at any place and time and in relative privacy. It only takes a moment or two to gamble, but especially when credit is used, it can take a very long time to pay off.
“Implementing a ban on use of credit for regulated interactive wagering services will provide for greater consistency of online and telephone betting with gambling in licensed venues, casinos and TAB outlets.
“The Bill will also require licensed interactive wagering service providers to receive an acknowledgement from the customer of their losses to date on that service before allowing them to make any more bets, so that customers have timely and meaningful information about what they’ve spent.”
