There are some major problems within the Australian laws when it comes to sports betting. Chief Executive of Sportsbet has said that the betting on cricket within the Big Bash League (BBL) shows that online wagering isn’t being controlled effectively and that’s putting local companies and a significant disadvantage.
There is a rise in popularity for betting on cricket, though it’s not as large as some of the other sports around the country and even internationally. The summer games in the BBL are the ones that receive the most bets.
“In play” betting has made betting on the game more popular. However, “in play” is when punters are able to bet on the game’s outcome after the game has started. The problem is found within the Interactive Gambling Act within Australia. It is illegal for punters to make bets online once the play has begun. Local customers still have the ability to make these bets over the phone, however.
Betfair is an international platform that competes against Sportsbet. They both take calls from local punters but do not take international bets from this forum.
The argument lies in the fact that the Australian gaming laws are putting the Australian wagering operators at a disadvantage to their competition.
The “in play” betting aspect of the law was reviewed in March of 2013, but no action was taken. No action could be taken, according to the Communications Minister, until the states and territories agreed to national standards for the purpose of consumer protection.
The problem with the bets that were taken via Betfair, according to Sportsbet, is that the games are therefore at a greater risk of corruption. If all of the companies around the globe are able to allow for betting on cricket in Australia, the Australian companies should be able to allow similar bets. Until legislation changes, however, only the Australian run companies will not permit any kind of “in play” betting online.
Betfair believes that they are delivering a financial return to the cricket industry. However, the Australian operators view it as an unfair advantage that doesn’t allow them to play on the same level as the offshore operators.
