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Today, the Federal Parliament has approved legislation to prohibit the use of credit cards for online wagering, a move applauded by Responsible Wagering Australia (RWA) and its members.
CEO of RWA, Kai Cantwell, said: “This is an important measure to protect customers and their loved ones, making it easier for people to stay in control of their own gambling behaviour. It will complement the existing offering of safer gambling account management tools by RWA members to customers to help them stay in control of their betting.”
While RWA members support this legislative action, Cantwell highlighted certain concerns. He added: “It is disappointing to see that other forms of gambling such as lotteries and keno have been exempted from the ban, especially when lotteries are the most prevalent form of gambling in Australia and are commonly accessed by people in low-socioeconomic communities.”
RWA has been actively collaborating with the Federal Government and financial services since 2021 to bring about this credit card ban.
In October 2023, RWA participated in GambleAware Week alongside NSW, promoting awareness of support services and responsible betting habits. The association also flagged concerns over illegal offshore operators, highlighting their evasion of Australian laws, taxes and consumer protection measures.
This development occurs in the face of ongoing challenges in Australia concerning unlicensed online wagering services that have impacted tax revenue and consumer protection. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) recently issued a formal warning to Best Bookies’ Price Pty Ltd for operating an unlicensed online wagering service.
