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Voices from all sides are coming out for and against Australian allowing in play betting during professional sporting matches.  The fight led by the BetFair and the Australian Football League may prove to be an uphill battle in a country notorious for attempting to band online casinos.  Not only that, Australia once grouped online casinos in with child pornography as items detrimental to the public good.

“In-play betting is extremely popular worldwide as a form of gambling, and if consumers are not able to access it online in Australia, they might elsewhere with overseas operators,” said a submission to the Federal government favoring an amendment to the Interactive Gambling Act.

“It seems inconsistent that a consumer can bet 'in-play' via telephone but not online.  Specifically, the AFL would like to suggest amendments to the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, such that betting online during sports events, or after an event has commenced, is no longer prohibited.”

Voices from the other side of the argument are just as fierce and determined, predicting disaster and a spike in problem gambling.  A surge in problem gambling seems to be the main concern coming from opponents of online casinos and Internet gambling.

“The AFL really has to decide if they are serious about being a community code, because internet gambling means you can lose your home without leaving it,” protested the Rev Tim Costello.

“This would be terrible for football and for Australian communities. I mean if we haven't learnt the lessons from spread betting in cricket . . . when will we learn?”

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