NT gambling bill proposes deposit caps, inducement bans for major online bookmakers
A Northern Territory bill proposes deposit caps and inducement bans for online bookmakers, affecting major companies like Sportsbet and Bet365.Summary
A private member's bill in the Northern Territory parliament aims to impose deposit caps and ban inducements for online bookmakers licensed in the NT, which serves as the de facto regulator for Australia's online gambling industry. If passed, the bill would limit monthly deposits to $500 for 18-21 year olds and $1,000 for 22-24 year olds, ban inducements such as bonus bets, and impose a positive duty on bookmakers to prevent harm. The maximum disciplinary penalty would increase from $194,000 to $10 million or 10% of annual revenue. The bill, introduced by independent MLA Justine Davis, has support from advocacy groups and federal MPs like Andrew Wilkie, but faces scrutiny from the NT government and opposition. It also seeks to reform the NT Wagering Commission with stricter conflict-of-interest rules. The proposed changes follow federal reforms that supporters argue are insufficient, and aim to address gambling harm, as highlighted by recovering gambler Shiva Panchalingam.
(Source：ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation))