It has been announced that, whilst Australia is seeing an upsurge in online gambling, Washington has repealed legislation which will outlaw online gambling for now. Whilst many states in the U.S are trying to push through bills which will allow intrastate online gambling, it was previously reported that just such a bill passed in Washington was set to be repealed. With councilors now having officially voted, the judgment is in, seeing the step into online gambling vetoed.
Washington Repeals Online Gambling Bill
Whilst a law was past a year ago which would allow Washington DC to run intrastate online gambling facilities, the bill has now been repealed. With only two members voting against the repeal, the previous bill was quashed with 10 votes, putting pay to the continuous number of stalls noted in the state as individuals tried to get the online gambling industry up and running. In the same manner as New Jersey, Washington DC almost became the first American state to legalize gambling on the internet, but fell at the very last hurdle.
Gambling Bill Supporters
Two steadfast supporters of the online gambling bill were Councilor Michael A. Brown and Major Vincent C. Gray. Whilst the former did everything in his power to prevent the repeal, including having drafted a replacement compromise bill, Mayor Gray said that he would fully support the bill if the repeal failed.
Further Investigation by Online Gambling Opposition
Though the repeal may have been put through, quashing any legislation which may have previously been legitimized, Councilors Tommy Wells and Jack Evans said that the matter would not end here and that further investigations into lottery contracts would now be looked at. Mr. Wells was particularly outspoken on the subject, expressing that he would be looking in depth at the process of lottery partner selection in regard to the controversial $38m contract. Problems first arose when D.C Inspector General Charles J. Willoughby wrote a report saying that changes had occurred in the city’s lottery contract. Whilst having a formal agreement with Intralot for providing non-traditional games such as the lottery, wording was later replaced with Internet gambling without any councilors being notified. In addition, it was said that Emmanuel S. Bailey, local partner for Intralot, had misrepresented his firms when making the lottery bid.
Whilst a shadow of concern has been put on any online gambling contract, Councilor Brown explained that in the public meetings held on the matter, intrastate gambling had in fact been popular. However, news over the changes in lottery contract had made many councilors repeal previous legislation in favor of starting form scratch. And, though this may indeed by the way for future events, any proposition for online gambling in Washington DC has been severely put back.
Australia Notes Online Gaming Boom
Whilst online gambling legislation plagues America, it has been revealed that on the other side of the world, Australia is seeing its internet based gaming boom. It is now estimated that around $600 million is spent on internet gaming by Australian’s every year, indicating the great demand that residents have for this popular pastime. One of the largest factors believed to behind Australia’s incredible booming gambling industry is the convenience that home gaming offers. Over the past six years, the number of people playing and gambling from home has increased exponentially. However, like many other nations, it is reported that Australian authorities now have to face the difficult challenge of just how to go about regulation.
click here to see most Popular PagesGambling Survey
As a means to establish the diversity of people utilizing online gaming in Australia, 6,500 people were questioned in a survey over their patterns and traits of gambling. It was found that those using online services were more likely to be men, and those that are either married or living with a partner. Meanwhile, it was also discovered that the majority of online players tended to have higher incomes than those who visited land-based casinos to gamble. In addition, and unsurprising due to the ease at which games can be played, it was found that those individuals playing online tended to use a wider variety of games than those visiting bricks and mortar casinos.
Gaming Flexibility Key in Australian Industry
It is the last matter which is, in particular, driving the Australian online gambling industry, with gamers more attracted to the option of being able to play in a wider variety of betting arenas. Sports betting was the highest area in demand, whilst casino games and poker came second and third on the list. Between 2004 and 2008, sports betting saw a demand rise of 103%, indicating just how popular it is. With many residents of Australia very keen on cricket, rugby and Aussie rules, it is unsurprising that online sports betting has seen rocketing demand.
Online Poker and Casino Illegality
One of the truly remarkable points of the report, which was produced by Alex Blaszczynski, is that though both online casino game and poker is illegal in Australia, the demand is very high. Part of the boom in online gaming can be attributed to the vast increase in technological advancement, with people being able to gamble on the move through the use of tablet computers, iPads and even smart phones. And, whilst online casinos and poker may be illegal from Australian based operations, with 2,000 gaming sites offered around the world, individuals are still able to access websites and indulge in online gambling.
A Question of Regulation
Australia is now also asking questions over how to regulate the online gambling industry, especially due to millions of dollars being spent at international venues over which they have no control. A leading question is how to ensure that responsible gaming is highlighted, enabling residents to play in a safe manner. And, it is this question that is also being asked throughout America, Europe and many countries across the world. However, whilst authorities continue to try and put safeguards in place to regulate the industry, online gambling remains popular and is set to only grow over the coming months and years.
