Plans to introduce register that will allow any punter to self-exclude from online gambling sites

Scott Morrison’s answer to Australia’s $23billion addiction: PM pushes for register that will allow punters to ban themselves from all gambling sites

  • The online National Self-Exclusion Register would be enforced across all states 
  • It would allow anyone to ban themselves from all online gambling websites
  • Each year since 2015, Australians spent more than $23b in total gambling  

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has revealed plans for a register that will allow people to ban themselves from all online gambling sites.

The online National Self-Exclusion Register would also hide gambling advertisements and would be enforced across state boundaries

The proposed register aims to reduce gambling-related harm.

Each year since 2015, Australians spent more than $23billion in total gambling expenditure, according to the Responsible Gambling Foundation.

Self-imposed bans can range from a period of three months or permanently through one simple process.

Under the register, interactive wagering service providers would be prohibited from directly advertising and promoting to a person registered for self-exclusion.

Upon registration for self-exclusion, all funds held in a consumer’s active accounts must be returned to that consumer once all wagers and bets are settled and the account must then be closed.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority would be responsible for the implementation of the register once it is implemented.

The online National Self-Exclusion Register would be enforced across state boundaries and aims to reduce gambling-related harm (stock image)

Data from 2016-2017 revealed $1,251.39 is spent on gambling expenditure per Australian adult.

Total money spent at casinos was $4.790billion, while $3.313billion was spent on race betting over the same period of time.

Families and Social Services Minister Anne Ruston said the proposed policy could help problem gamblers.

‘As much as possible government policy should preserve Australians’ ability to enjoy a punt while putting in place sensible and targeted measures to prevent and support gamblers facing significant risks of harm,’ Ms Ruston said in a statement on Sunday.

‘It is a measure that we believe will motivate gamblers to have periods where they do not gamble online at all as a way of changing their behaviour and minimising the risk they face of gambling-related harm.’

Each year since 2015, Australians spent more than $23billion in total gambling expenditure, according to the Responsible Gambling Foundation (stock image)

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk