Six months after the bill banning the use of credit cards, digital currency, and credit-related products was passed in Australia, it came into effect. Following a six-month transition period, AUS online casinos, like their land-based counterparts, must immediately cease accepting payments in the forms listed above.
Australian Authorities Enforce New Measures
In 2023, the interactive Gambling Act of 2001 was amended. The Australian Parliament voted to restrict the use of credit cards and credit-related products at online casinos. This surprised no one: the UK banned the same thing a couple of years prior, and land-based sites in AUS already have the same ban. Now, after a six-month transition, everything is set for the ban to come into effect. That happened a couple of days ago.
Through the new bill, the Australian Communications and Media Authority has gained more authority to enforce the new measures. Namely, they can now enforce penalty provisions for civilians, with fines going up to 234,750 AUD. And that’s not a small fine at all.
Any company in the industry that fails to adhere to the measure will receive a fine.
According to Michelle Rowland, Communications Minister, they delivered what the people expected of them. She has said, “Australians should not be gambling with money they do not have. Last year, the Albanese Labor Government committed to banning credit cards for online wagering – and we’ve delivered.”
She continues, “This ban builds on the significant progress to minimise gambling harm that the Albanese Government has made over the past two years, which is already benefitting thousands of vulnerable Australians.”
Strong Support
Responsible Wagering Australia strongly supports the ban, including some of its most prominent members. In fact, said members, such as Unibet, Betfair, Entain, Sportsbet, and Pointsbet, think the ban should go even further. According to them, the restriction should apply to lottery and keno gambling as well.
Moreover, the Responsible Wagering Australia body has been working on the development of the bill since 2021, and they have collaborated with the government and financial services.
Kai Cantwell, the CEO of Responsible Wagering Australia, has said that the measure is important for protecting customers, “making it easier for people to stay in control of their own gambling behaviour”.
And more importantly, this is just one of many steps AUS intends to take to protect players. Gambling problems, such as problem gambling and addiction, have been a focus of the entire industry for decades. Stay tuned for more updates and information.
