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Victoria's game to lay off on gambling
By Stewart Oldfield
Victoria has become the first Australian State to buckle under the Federal Government's attempts to introduce a moratorium on internet gaming licences.
The fledgling Labor Government has told its federal counterpart it will defer moves to proclaim legislation allowing for internet gaming licences to be issued in the State.
In a letter to the Federal Minister for Communications, Senator Richard Alston, Victoria's Gaming Minister, Mr John Pandazopoulos, said he was "prepared to accept a deferral of a proclamation of the Victorian legislation" for three months to give Senator Alston the chance to review the State's approach to internet gaming.
Victoria's approach contrasts with the moves by the ACT and Tasmania to issue licences in defiance of the Federal Government's bid to restrict the industry.
Victoria is likely to form the backbone of the country's internet gambling industry, if it is not banned, because it is home of Australia's three biggest gaming entities: Tabcorp, Tattersall's and Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd's Crown Casino.
Each of them is preparing to launch internet gaming products, which are at varying stages of readiness.
In a change of rhetoric, Mr Pandazopoulos said the Victorian Government "does not support internet gaming" and it was necessary to get Federal Government feedback to ensure consumers were being protected.
The Federal Government has said the moratorium will be made retrospective from May 19, leaving only a handful of Australian-based companies licensed to operate out of Australia.
However, Deutsche Bank said in a report on attempts to introduce the moratorium:
"In our view, the current stance by the Federal Government stems from a lack of information and desire to win political brownie points."
The Federal Government has said it expects little opposition to the legislation from minor parties.
Queensland internet gaming concern Gocorp, which expects to begin trading on the stockmarket on Monday, beat the moratorium by three days, according to its chief executive, Mr Paul Appleby.
Mr Appleby said his company supported having a consistent approach to the regulation of internet gaming.
By Stewart Oldfield
Victoria has become the first Australian State to buckle under the Federal Government's attempts to introduce a moratorium on internet gaming licences.
The fledgling Labor Government has told its federal counterpart it will defer moves to proclaim legislation allowing for internet gaming licences to be issued in the State.
In a letter to the Federal Minister for Communications, Senator Richard Alston, Victoria's Gaming Minister, Mr John Pandazopoulos, said he was "prepared to accept a deferral of a proclamation of the Victorian legislation" for three months to give Senator Alston the chance to review the State's approach to internet gaming.
Victoria's approach contrasts with the moves by the ACT and Tasmania to issue licences in defiance of the Federal Government's bid to restrict the industry.
Victoria is likely to form the backbone of the country's internet gambling industry, if it is not banned, because it is home of Australia's three biggest gaming entities: Tabcorp, Tattersall's and Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd's Crown Casino.
Each of them is preparing to launch internet gaming products, which are at varying stages of readiness.
In a change of rhetoric, Mr Pandazopoulos said the Victorian Government "does not support internet gaming" and it was necessary to get Federal Government feedback to ensure consumers were being protected.
The Federal Government has said the moratorium will be made retrospective from May 19, leaving only a handful of Australian-based companies licensed to operate out of Australia.
However, Deutsche Bank said in a report on attempts to introduce the moratorium:
"In our view, the current stance by the Federal Government stems from a lack of information and desire to win political brownie points."
The Federal Government has said it expects little opposition to the legislation from minor parties.
Queensland internet gaming concern Gocorp, which expects to begin trading on the stockmarket on Monday, beat the moratorium by three days, according to its chief executive, Mr Paul Appleby.
Mr Appleby said his company supported having a consistent approach to the regulation of internet gaming.