Chapter 1 - Introduction

[1]        Journals of the Senate, No. 42, 13 June 2017, p. 1383.

[2]        Journals of the Senate, No. 60, 11 September 2017, p. 1932.

[3]        Revised Explanatory Memorandum, p. 1.

[4]        Productivity Commission, Gambling, Inquiry report, 50, 2 vols, Canberra, 26 February 2010, p. 3, http://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/gambling-2009/report/gambling-report-volume1.pdf, (accessed 14 August 2017).

[5]        Productivity Commission, Gambling, Inquiry report, 50, 2 vols, Canberra, 26 February 2010, p. 35, http://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/gambling-2009/report/gambling-report-volume1.pdf, (accessed 14 August 2017).

[6]        Productivity Commission, Gambling, Inquiry report, 50, 2 vols, Canberra, 26 February 2010, p. 3, http://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/gambling-2009/report/gambling-report-volume1.pdf, (accessed 14 August 2017).

[7]        Department of Social Services, Government response to the review of illegal offshore wagering, p. 3.

[8]        Department of Social Services, Review of Illegal Offshore Wagering, 2015, https://www.dss.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/04_2016/review_of_illegal_offshore_wagering_18_december_2015.pdf.

[9]        Department of Social Services, Government response to the review of illegal offshore wagering, p. 4.

[10]      The Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill 2016 was referred to committee. The committee tabled its report on the bill on 30 November 2016 and is available at: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Environment_and_Communications/IGA

[11]      Department of Communications and the Arts, Protecting Australians from illegal online gambling services, August 2017, p.1, https://www.communications.gov.au/publications/fact-sheet-online-gambling, (accessed 14 August 2017). See also Explanatory Memorandum,    pp. 1–2.

[12]      Senator David Leyonhjelm, Senate Hansard, 21 March 2017, p. 1577.

[13]      Senator the Hon Mitch Fifield, Minister for Communications and the Arts, Senate Hansard, 20 March 2017, pp. 1462–1463

[14]      Department of Social Services, Submission 4, p. 4.

[15]      Department of Social Services, Submission 4, p. 4.

[16]      iBus Media Limited, Submission 17, p. 3.

[17]      iBus Media Limited, Submission 17, p. 3.

[18]      Dr Sally Gainsbury and Professor Alex Blaszczynski, Submission 3, p. 2.

[19]      iBus Media Limited, Submission 17, p. 3.

[20]      Dr Sally Gainsbury and Professor Alex Blaszczynski, Submission 3, p. 1.

[21]      Dr Sally Gainsbury and Professor Alex Blaszczynski, Submission 3, p. 2.

[22]      Dr Sally Gainsbury and Professor Alex Blaszczynski, Submission 3, p. 2.

[23]      Dr Sally Gainsbury and Professor Alex Blaszczynski, Submission 3, p. 2.

[24]      Dr Sally Gainsbury and Professor Alex Blaszczynski, Submission 3, p. 2.

[25]      Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, Case Reports: Luke Brabin, https://www.cdpp.gov.au/case-reports/luke-brabin, (accessed 8 September 2017).

[26]      Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, Case Reports: Luke Brabin, https://www.cdpp.gov.au/case-reports/luke-brabin, (accessed 8 September 2017).

[27]      Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, Case Reports: Luke Brabin, https://www.cdpp.gov.au/case-reports/luke-brabin, (accessed 8 September 2017).

[28]      Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, Case Reports: Luke Brabin, https://www.cdpp.gov.au/case-reports/luke-brabin, (accessed 8 September 2017).

Chapter 2 - Features and impact of poker

[1]        The Australian Online Poker Alliance, Submission 2, p. 2. See also iBus Media Limited, Submission 17, p. 2.

[2]        Mr James Devine, Committee Hansard, 1 August 2017, p. 30.

[3]        The Australian Online Poker Alliance, Submission 2, p. 3.

[4]        The Australian Online Poker Alliance, Submission 2, p. 3.

[5]        The Australian Online Poker Alliance, Submission 2, p. 3.

[6]        iBus Media Limited, Submission 17, p. 2.

[7]        Mr Luke Brabin, Submission 16, p. 4.

[8]        The Australian Taxpayers' Alliance and MyChoice Australia, Submission 12, p. 5.

[9]        The Australian Taxpayers' Alliance and MyChoice Australia, Submission 12, pp. 5–6. See also DeDonno, M.A and Detterman D.K, (2008), 'Poker is a skill', Gaming Law Review, 12(1), p. 36, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233757178_Poker_Is_a_Skill, (accessed 22 August 2017).

[10]      The Australian Taxpayers Alliance and MyChoice Australia, Submission 12, p. 6. See also van Loon, R.J.P, van den Assem, M.J, and van Dolder, D, (2005), 'Beyond chance? The persistence of performance in online poker, Plos one, 10(3), e0115479, http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0115479, (accessed 22 August 2017).

[11]      The Australian Taxpayers Alliance and MyChoice Australia, Submission 12, p. 6.

[12]      Ms Jenny Williams, Independent Consultant, Betway Limited, Committee Hansard, 17 August 2017, p. 2.

[13]      Mr Crispin Rovere, Submission 210, p. 3.

[14]      Mr James Devine, Submission 13, p. 2.

[15]      Name Withheld, Submission 127, p. 1.

[16]      See for example, Mr Ian Kerry, Submission 15, pp. 1–2; Name Withheld, Submission 133, p. 1; Mr Dylan Martin, Submission 153, p. 1.

[17]      Dr Sally Gainsbury and Professor Alex Blaszczynski, Submission 3, p. 6.

[18]      Dr Sally Gainsbury and Professor Alex Blaszczynski, Submission 3, pp. 6–7.

[19]      The Salvation Army Australia, Submission 6, p. 4.

[20]      The Salvation Army Australia, Submission 6, p. 4. Gambling related harms will be discussed further in this chapter.

[21]      Dr Sally Gainsbury and Professor Alex Blaszczynski, Submission 3, p. 4.

[22]      Dr Sally Gainsbury, Committee Hansard, 1 August 2017, p. 58.

[23]      Professor Alex Blaszczynski, Committee Hansard, 1 August 2017, pp. 58–59.

[24]      Australian Online Poker Alliance, Submission 2, p. 7.

[25]      Mr Oliver Gill Gaber, Submission 10, p. 4.

[26]      A buy-in is the cost to enter a tournament, or the minimum amount needed to sit down in a cash game at a specific table.

[27]      A ring game is a standard poker game in which money is wagered during each hand.

[28]      A Big Blind is the amount of chips the second player to the left of the dealer has to bet.

[29]      Australian Online Poker Alliance, Submission 2, pp. 7–8.

[30]      Ms Carol Ford, Submission 44, p. 1.

[31]      Mr Robert Munro, Submission 40, p. 1.

[32]      Mr Joshua Meale, Submission 184, p. 1. See also Name Withheld, Submission 251, p. 1.

[33]      Mr Oliver Gill Gaber, Submission 10, p. 5.

[34]      Mr James Greenwood, Submission 185, p. 1.

[35]      Mr Luke Brabin, Committee Hansard, 1 August 2017, p. 48.

[36]      Mr Richard Jessep, Submission 229, p. 1. See also Name Withheld, Submission 236, p. 1; Mr Peter Cullen, Submission 58, p. 1.

[37]      Australian Online Poker Alliance, Submission 2, pp. 7–8. See also Professor Brian Alspach, Submission 9, p. 2; Mr Oliver Gill Gaber, Submission 10, p. 2; Australian Taxpayers Alliance and MyChoice Australia, Submission 12, p. 2; Mr James Devine, Submission 13, p. 2; Mr Luke Brabin, Submission 16, p. 2; Mr Terry Roberts, Submission 70, p. 1; Name Withheld, Submission 119, p. 1; Name Withheld, Submission 150, p. 1.

[38]      Australian Online Poker Alliance, Submission 2, p. 8.

[39]      Mr Luke Brabin, Committee Hansard, 1 August 2017, p. 48.

[40]      Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, Submission 5, p. 1.

[41]      Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, Submission 5, p. 1.

[42]      The Salvation Army Australia, Submission 6, p.3.

[43]      Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, Submission 5, p. 1.

[44]      The Salvation Army Australia, Submission 6, p. 4. The risks associated with free-to-play games will also be discussed further in the Chapter 3 in the context of liberalisation of regulation.

[45]      Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, Submission 5, p. 2.

[46]      Dr Sally Gainsbury and Professor Alex Blaszczynski, Submission 3, p. 3.

[47]      Department of Social Services, Submission 4, p. 2.

[48]      Department of Social Services, Submission 4, p. 2.

[49]      Department of Social Services, Submission 4, p. 2.

[50]      Dr Sally Gainsbury and Professor Alex Blaszczynski, Submission 3, p. 3.

[51]      Dr Sally Gainsbury, Committee Hansard, 1 August 2017, p. 55.

[52]      Mr Crispin Rovere, Submission 210, p. 4.

[53]      Dr Sally Gainsbury and Professor Alex Blaszczynski, Submission 3, p. 3.

[54]      Dr Sally Gainsbury and Professor Alex Blaszczynski, Submission 3, p. 3.

[55]      The Salvation Army Australia, Submission 6, p. 4.

[56]      Professor Alex Blaszczynski, Committee Hansard, 1 August 2017, p. 55.

[57]      The Salvation Army Australia, Submission 6, p.4.

[58]      Dr Sally Gainsbury and Professor Alex Blaszczynski, Submission 03, p. 4.

[59]      Dr Sally Gainsbury and Professor Alex Blaszczynski, Submission 3, p. 4.

[60]      Professor Alex Blaszczynski, Committee Hansard, 1 August 2017, p. 57.

[61]      Professor Alex Blaszczynski, Committee Hansard, 1 August 2017, p. 57.

[62]      Professor Alex Blaszczynski, Committee Hansard, 1 August 2017, p. 58.

[63]      Professor Alex Blaszczynski, Committee Hansard, 1 August 2017, p. 58.

[64]      Professor Alex Blaszczynski, Committee Hansard, 1 August 2017, p. 58.

[65]      Professor Alex Blaszczynski, Committee Hansard, 1 August 2017, p. 58.

Chapter 3 - Regulatory approaches

[1]        The Australian Taxpayers' Alliance and MyChoice Australia, Submission 12, p. 1.

[2]        Mr Oliver Gill Gaber, Submission 10, p. 5.

[3]        Mr Joseph Del Duca, Australian Online Poker Alliance, Committee Hansard, 1 August 2017, p. 9.

[4]        Mr Daniel Laidlaw, Submission 14, p. 2.

[5]        Mr Luke Brabin, Submission 16, p. 3.

[6]        Mr Daniel Laidlaw, Submission 14, p. 2.

[7]        Professor Brian Alspach, Submission 9, p. 4.

[8]        Australian Taxpayers' Alliance and MyChoice Australia, Submission 12, p. 8.

[9]        Mr Luke Brabin, Submission 16, p. 5.

[10]      Australian Online Poker Alliance, Submission 2, p. 6.

[11]      Mr Oliver Gill Gaber, Submission 10, p. 6.

[12]      Mr Jonathan Bredin, Submission 173, p. 1.

[13]      Mr Herbert Thompson, Submission 72, p. 1.

[14]      Mr Jonathan Bredin, Submission 173, p. 1. See also Mr Mike Subacius, Submission 49, p. 1; Mr Jim Langford, Submission 189, p. 2; Mr Daniel Peiris, Submission 159, p. 1; Name Withheld, Submission 154, p. 1; Name Withheld, Submission 142, p. 1.

[15]      Mr Joseph Del Duca, Australian Online Poker Alliance, Committee Hansard, 1 August 2017, p. 15.

[16]      Dr Sally Gainsbury and Professor Alex Blaszczynski, Submission 3, p. 6.

[17]      Betway Limited, Submission 8, p. 5.

[18]      Mr Joseph Del Duca, Australian Online Poker Alliance, Committee Hansard, 1 August 2017, p. 12.

[19]      Dr Sally Gainsbury and Professor Alex Blaszczynski, Submission 3, p. 4.

[20]      Mr Oliver Gill Gaber, Submission 10, pp. 8–9.

[21]      See for example, Mr Satyajeet Marar, MyChoice Australia, Committee Hansard, 1 August 2017, p. 39.

[22]      Betway Limited, Submission 8, p. 5. See also Sportsbet, Submission 26, p. 2.

[23]      iBus Media Limited, Submission 17, p. 13.

[24]      iBus Media Limited, Submission 17, p. 13.

[25]      Mr Luke Brabin, Submission 16, p. 3.

[26]      Mr Crispin Rovere, Submission 210, p. 5.

[27]      Australian Online Poker Alliance, Submission 2, p. 8.

[28]      iBus Media Limited, Submission 17, p. 6.

[29]      iBus Media Limited, Submission 17, p. 6.

[30]      Ms Jenny Williams, Independent Consultant, Betway Limited, Committee Hansard, 17 August 2017, p. 3.

[31]      Ms Jenny Williams, Independent Consultant, Betway Limited, Committee Hansard, 17 August 2017, p. 3.

[32]      Mr Daniel Laidlaw, Committee Hansard, 1 August 2017, p. 31.

[33]      iBus Media Limited, Submission 17, p.5.

[34]      Betway Limited, Submission 8, p. 2.

[35]      iBus Media Limited, Submission 17, p. 5. See also Australian Online Poker Alliance, Submission 2, p. 8.

[36]      Dr Sally Gainsbury and Professor Alex Blaszczynski, Submission 3, p. 4.

[37]      Dr Sally Gainsbury and Professor Alex Blaszczynski, Submission 3, p. 4.

[38]      Clubs Australia, Submission 7, p. 6.

[39]      Submission 141, p. 1; Submission 162, p. 1; Submission 248, p. 1.

[40]      Mr Oliver Gill Gaber, Submission 10, p. 7. See also Mr Oliver Gill Gaber, Committee Hansard, 1 August 2017, p. 26.

[41]      Mr Richard Jessep, Submission 229, pp. 2–3.

[42]      Mr Luke Brabin, Submission 16, p. 2; Name Withheld, Submission 122, p. 2; Name Withheld, Submission 162, p. 1; Name Withheld, Submission 164, p. 4.

[43]      Name Withheld, Submission 134, p. 5;

[44]      Dr Sally Gainsbury and Professor Alex Blaszczynski, Submission 3, p. 6.

[45]      Australian Online Poker Alliance, Submission 2, p. 1.

[46]      Australian Online Poker Alliance, Submission 2, p. 2.

[47]      iBus Media Limited, Submission 17, p. 14.

[48]      Ms Jenny Williams, Answer to Question on Notice, p. 1.

[49]      Mr Antony Gevisser, Betway Limited, Committee Hansard, 17 August 2017, p. 6.

[50]      Mr Antony Gevisser, Betway Limited, Committee Hansard, 17 August 2017, p. 6.

[51]      Mr Oliver Gill Gaber, Submission 10, p. 6.

[52]      Name Withheld, Submission 110, p. 2. See also Name Withheld, Submission 151, p. 1; Australian Taxpayers' Alliance and MyChoice Australia, Submission 12, p. 4; Mr Jonathan Bredin, Submission 173, p. 2; Mr Ben Whitby, Submission 176, p. 3; Mr Charles Bucar, Submission 179, p. 2; Mr James Greenwood, Submission 185, p. 3; Mr Jason Smith, Submission 188, p. 2; Mr Chris McLoughlin, Submission 217, p. 2.

[53]      Ms Jenny Williams, Answer to Question on Notice, p. 1.

[54]      Mr Crispin Rovere, Submission 210, p. 5.

[55]      Mr Oliver Gill Gaber, Submission 10, p. 9. See also Mr Joseph Del Duca, AOPA, Committee Hansard, 1 August 2017, p. 11; Name Withheld, Submission 103, p. 1; Name Withheld, Submission 123, p. 1; Name Withheld, Submission 134, p. 6; Mr Ian Kerry, Submission 15, p. 3.

[56]      iBus Media Limited, Submission 17, p. 7.

[57]      Mr Joseph Del Duca, Australian Online Poker Alliance, Committee Hansard, 1 August 2017, p. 10.

[58]      Mr Joseph Del Duca, Australian Online Poker Alliance, Committee Hansard, 1 August 2017, p. 10.

[59]      Mr Joseph Del Duca, Australian Online Poker Alliance, Committee Hansard, 1 August 2017, pp. 10–11.

[60]      Mr Antony Gevisser, Betway Limited, Committee Hansard, 17 August 2017, p. 2.

[61]      Betway Limited, Submission 17, p. 12.

[62]      Betway Limited, Submission 17, p. 12.

[63]      Mr Michael Stanmore, Submission 234, Supplementary Submission, pp. 7–8.

[64]      See also Name Withheld, Submission 118, p. 1; Name Withheld, Submission 248, p. 1.

[65]      Ms Jenny Williams, Independent Consultant, Betway Limited, Committee Hansard, 17 August 2017, p. 2.

[66]      Ms Jenny Williams, Independent Consultant, Betway Limited, Committee Hansard, 17 August 2017, p. 5.

[67]      Ms Jenny Williams, Independent Consultant, Betway Limited, Committee Hansard, 17 August 2017, p. 3.

[68]      Clubs Australia, Submission 7, p. 6.

[69]      Clubs Australia, Submission 7, pp. 6–7.

[70]      Clubs Australia, Submission 7, p. 8.

[71]      Clubs Australia, Submission 7, p. 7.

[72]      Clubs Australia, Submission 7, p. 8.

[73]      Dr Sally Gainsbury and Professor Alex Blaszczynski, Submission 3, p. 6.

[74]      Dr Sally Gainsbury and Professor Alex Blaszczynski, Submission 3, pp. 3–4.

[75]      Dr Sally Gainsbury and Professor Alex Blaszczynski, Submission 3, p. 6.

[76]      Dr Sally Gainsbury and Professor Alex Blaszczynski, Submission 3, pp. 5–6.

[77]      Dr Sally Gainsbury and Professor Alex Blaszczynski, Submission 3, p. 6.

[78]      Mr Gerard Byrne, The Salvation Army Australia, Committee Hansard, 1 August 2017, p. 7.

[79]      See Chapter 2.

[80]      Dr Sally Gainsbury and Professor Alex Blaszczynski, Submission 3, p. 8.

[81]      Dr Jasmine Loo, The Salvation Army Australia, Committee Hansard, 1 August 2017, p. 7.

[82]      Dr Sally Gainsbury and Professor Alex Blaszczynski, Submission 3, p. 7.

[83]      Dr Sally Gainsbury and Professor Alex Blaszczynski, Submission 3, p. 7.

[84]      Department of Social Services, Submission 4, p. 4.

[85]      Department of Social Services, Submission 4, p. 4.

[86]      See Chapter 1.

[87]      Clubs Australia, Submission 7, p. 4. See also Betway Limited, Submission 8, p. 1; Sportsbet, Submission 26, p. 1.

[88]      Mr Antony Gevisser, Betway Limited, Committee Hansard, 17 August 2017, p. 2.

Senator Bernardi's and Senator Leyonhjelm's Additional Comments

[1]        Australian Taxpayers' Alliance and MyChoice Australia, Submission 12.

[2]        Australian Online Poker Alliance, Submission 2.

[3]        Productivity Commission, Gambling, Inquiry Report, No. 50, Volume 1, 26 February 2010, https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/gambling-2009/report/gambling-report-volume1.pdf (accessed 3 October 2017).

[4]        Australian Online Poker Alliance, Submission 2, pp. 1–2.

[5]        Dr Sally Gainsbury and Professor Alex Blaszczynski, Submission 3, p. 2.

[6]        Australian Taxpayers' Alliance and MyChoice Australia, Submission 12, pp. 6–7.

[7]        Productivity Commission, Gambling, Inquiry Report, No. 50, Volume 1, 26 February 2010, p. 3, https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/gambling-2009/report/gambling-report-volume1.pdf (accessed 3 October 2017).

[8]        Australian Taxpayers' Alliance and MyChoice Australia, Submission 12, p. 10.