Gambling Plans in Aussie Government?

New legislative season to discuss online gambling, among other topics The latest reports from the land Down Under involve news that the Australian federal government of Julia Gillard is to go ahead and crack down on gambling in the country, but also that it will deal with a number of issues in the winter session of parliament, which starts next week. One of the questions it will deal with is boosting the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) by enabling it to enforce new rules on online sports betting, including a ban on promotion of live odds during sports coverage. Also, the government plans to pass three bills by June 28, which it claims will reduce the harm caused by gaming machines to problem gamblers, their families and communities. The legislation will allow for a trial in the Australian Capital Territory of pre-commitment technology and if the trial turns out to be successful, it will be able to expand to other states. Furthermore, it has been specified that all new poker machines manufactured from 2013 must be capable of supporting pre-commitment by December 31, 2016, and all poker machines must be part of a state-linked pre-commitment system, except eligible small venues which will have longer. The laws also envisage a daily withdrawal limit in gaming venues of $250 (excluding casinos) by February 1, 2013, as well as extra gambling counsellors and electronic warnings and cost-of-play displays on poker machines by 2016.