Australian Internet Gaming Law and Party Poker

Online poker company Party Poker has garnered a lot of attention after advertising a position for a head of marketing in Australia.  The advert has attracted a lot of attention because Australian law means that it is not legal for a company – based in Australia or overseas, to provide gambling services to someone who resides in Australia.

The fines are hefty – $1.1 million per day for companies found to be in breech of the law.

However, since it’s introduction in 2001, the government has made no moves to enforce the Internet Gaming Act, which could explain the company’s boldness.  So far, the government has made no attempt to restrict the activities of online poker games or online casinos. A recent draft report commissioned by the Productivity Commission estimated that $790 million in gambling related transactions went offshore to illegal online gambling sites in 2008 with no funds returning to the country of origin.

Party Poker’s advertisement says it is a ”growing online poker business in Europe with plans to enter the Australasian market”.  Let’s see if anything is done about their move.

Tags

Pacific Poker, Poker News