Despite the defeat of the Interactive Gambling Moratorium Bill,
it is still possible that the government will seek a total ban on
internet gambling businesses in Australia. The intention of
imposing a one-year period for a ban was to use that year to
examine the feasibility and likely effects of a total ban.
An opponent of internet gambling legislation is the country’s
Internet Industry Association. The Association’s executive director
Peter Coroneos said:
“The risk is that promoting even the
possibility of an online ban will undermine industry confidence at
a time when we are most in need of reassurance, as well as deter
international investment in Australian broadband services.
"The very prospect of a ban will certainly
jeopardise our international reputation and send a message that the
Australian government does not understand the global, instantaneous
and decentralised nature of the Net. Attempting to force ISPs to
block sites will merely add to the costs of delivery of online
services to businesses and consumers here without achieving the
objective of protecting Australian gamblers."
According to Websense, a company that produces internet
monitoring software, the number of independent gambling sites
world-wide is between 350 and 700. The total revenue of on-line
gambling sites this year is expected to reach $2.2 billion,
according to Christian Capital Advisors.
