Another article regarding gambling.
First, we had the Four Corners expose of Tattersalls keeping gambling addicts “in the zone” with glass walls so they could still see the pokies from outside.
Then we had the expose of Woollies gambling venues providing free drinks and food to high betting problem gamblers so as to keep them losing their money.
And now we have the bottom-feeding betting companies preventing successful gamblers from winning.
What’s the problem here?
Apparently it is perfectly legal and written into the terms and conditions of use for each of the gambling providers.
It’s OK by our governments.
No one has yet said it is contrary to ACL?
The big financial institutions are permitted to adjust their fees, charges, actuarial rates, etc to ensure they always make a profit! So to can a gambling provider?
In many ways our society has a less than pleasant streak, where it is accepted and legally practicable although not morally right for one person to profit from the poor judgement of another.
True the behavior of a gambling provider in limiting winners seems unfair.
Alternately consider that those winnings only come about at the expense of some one who may always be a looser.
It may be easier to argue that neither winning gamblers nor the Companies that provide the gaming services have the moral high ground here? 
Caution re following moral judgement: I often wonder how much better our society might be if gambling as an industry or illegal pursuit did not exist. For those that genuinely believe in the “sport of kings” or dog’s chasing after fake fur for their future life prospects - let those keen on participating (like many of the rest of us do for our interests, hobbies and sports) 100% fund their hobby out of their own pockets and not the losses of mug punters who aspire to be like those living in the winners circles.
That some of the turn over comes back to the community (and often the industry of racing from the public purse) does not justify the source!
And one also needs to recognise that in any form of gambling, on average, the odds are stacked against the punter/gambler and favour the gambling industry. Otherwise the gambling industry would fall over overnight as it would be bleeding money.
This is the same situation as casinos banning card counters. Their model is a game of chance where they control the odds, the limits and the conditions and thus in the long run the profits too. They are not interested in games of skill. If you show some skill you take the odds in your favour and that breaks their model and so they ban you.
If you have such skill that can change the odds in your favour and you think the big establishments unfair then perhaps you have the wit to not play against them, you can always go to the track and face up with a flesh and blood bookie. If you fancy yourself at blackjack you can get a game where nobody cares if you can count.
Institutional gambling is a tax on stupidity, so of course the intelligent are not allowed to play. Governments are not going to change this situation because ready access is what the mob wants. The mob will keep placing their bets as the avenues for doing so become ever more accessible and convenient even if the odds are terrible and tricks are played on them. It may be more accurate to say it is a tax on stupidity and laziness. Given the way online gaming is aimed at young men let’s say stupidity, laziness and testosterone.
If you want to see a case of a game that is rigged that is a nice tax earner and does huge social harm look at poker machines.
The odds of governments stopping institutional gambling in Oz are about the same as getting gun control in the US. There are more parallels between these two wicked problems than just the odds of change.
Yes, the odds are already stacked against the punter and gambling can be very destructive. However, for those consumers who choose to gamble, the law should provide protection against outright deception. Under the current law, businesses are not allowed to make incorrect statements or create a false impression.
Could the latter apply here? The apps are by design set up to collect a person’s money under the impression that they will be able to place a bet, and this is also backed up with plenty of advertising exclaiming a chance to win. As far as I know (I don’t use the apps), there’s no restriction or warning at the point of purchase along the lines of ‘winning will restrict your access to this service’. I imagine that this type of pop-up message would be bad for business. Only once the money has changed hands and the punter has started to be successful do the restricitons apply. Even if it is written into the terms, these will not trump the law.
These are just my personal thoughts, I’m sure that anti-gambling campaigners are working on much more complex ways to deal with these and other problems.
Another article regarding Woollies unscrupulous behavior in plying mug punters with free booze.
Another article regarding gambling in Australia.
Would these persons actually sell their own mother, if they actually had one?
You can bet on that.
Research on poker machine community contributions.
As the article says 'Gambling operators often seek to persuade governments and the public of their virtue by funding “good causes”. ’
The short version is pokie operators get a tax break on the condition they make charitable contributions. The fact is the contributions are mainly to themselves including their own running costs and very little goes to anything that you or I would recognise as a charity.
I have always found such practices somewhat questionable, even though it is often a condition of the licences that the state governments issue/legislated by the states.
The gambling companies can destroy the lives of those who use their ‘stacked against the odds’ services, but somehow, this seems to somewhat okay as it is offset by the same gambling companies providing monies from gambling profits for community benefit programs.
Something has never quite sounded right with this.
Historically speaking on a global scale, our common sense might challenged if we really thought our gambling ‘industry’ was squeaky clean, pollies endorsements about same notwithstanding.
Do we really need an enquiry, or do the respective enforcement and regulating agencies need a good shake down? It’s their job to ensure all is within the law.
Simply kicking off an enquiry allows the status quo to continue, while those benefiting are able to reconfigure their activities with plenty of forewarning.
If there is an enquiry how should the terms of reference be determined if part of the problem may be those responsible for same?
Appreciate @PhilT you appear to have anticipated the outcome.
P.S. It would seem on other matters of significant national interest the current Federal government and accountable ministers can act without the need for enquires. When it suits? The states also have substantial powers to investigate and regulate.
Another wrinkle to reality.
Absolutely disgraceful.
Can somebody call the regulators?
Oh. Wait on. Forget it.
Nothing will happen. You can bet on that.
It woild be very difficult to regulate. Casinos have for many years evicted average punters/patrons which have been very successful as they often think they count cards or carry out oractices which are seen to be not in the casino’s interests.
Casino’s and betting agencies are about making money at everyone else’s expense. The odds are also heavily stacked against one hoping to be a winner.
The easiest option is if one bets/gambles, is to walk elsewhere. Losing customers would have a strong and potentially crippling message.
This doesn’t fix the issue of compulsive gamblers who spend all their money or nearly all on gambling. The businesses want them to continue so it is only those who are taking money out of the businesses by winning who are getting banned. If you are consistently successful you aren’t wanted and if a loser they want you.
Hopefully this will result in something positive.
The same could be said of drinkers spending too much on alcohol, or lotto card holders at the local news agents, or those who use recreational drugs in their down time, or …
You simply need to stop or go to a supplier who wants you to stop? 
Surely all business is morally motivated, NOT!
AA may be an exception.
The gambling, alcohol and drug (legal or illegal) industries are highly dependent on marketing to bring in new customers. As we have seen with smoking, breaking the advertising and marketing appeal of a product is effective. People dying from cancers was not enough on it’s own to drive change in how we behave.
Really interesting article, and dreadful considering that you would think that here in Australia there would be a law or some type of protection available for Australian punters. Perhaps it is time the Government considered laws or regulations that protected its citizens from being “ripped off” by such companies.
If nothing is done, what will be next? The Lotteries Commission…?
The Commonwealth Government has a webpage that provides current information on Gambling: Communities and Vulnerable People
https://www.dss.gov.au/communities-and-vulnerable-people/programmes-services/gambling
This website also provides a summary of current laws and regulations:
At the end of the day, those who are in control of making laws and regulation (namely the State Governments) are also a major beneficiary of the industry (revenue generated through licensing and taxes).
As a society, we have also allowed the proliferation of gambling and possibly have accepted the consequences. This is a tragedy, especially when the only ones who really win from gambling are the operators of the gambling industry (and potentially the government). Everyone else. namely the punters, suffer enormously from their quest that the next punt will be a big win.
There is a case presently working its way throught the legal system in Cairns regarding a woman who has been charged with allegedly stealing some $3.1 million from her employer, a local family business.
It will be very interesting to follow the details once the trial finally commences, but I would be amazed if a substanial amount of the allegedly stolen money did not get gambled away as has happened in a great many such cases.
I expect that the ATO will also be very interested in following the case of how a local family businesses was surviving despite some $3.1 million being allegedly embezzled.
