The federal reforms follow advocacy from the WA Government on the topic. Photo: Western Australian Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety.
Western Australia has welcomed a Federal Government announcement forecasting a crackdown on online Keno and foreign-matched lotteries in this country.
New laws will close loopholes in the Federal Interactive Gambling Act 2001, which the government says allows products to thrive in the community.
The reforms come in the wake of sustained advocacy on the part of the Cook Government in WA to lower the risk of gambling that online Keno and foreign-matched lotteries can pose.
“My government welcomes the Commonwealth Government’s announcement to close critical loopholes in the Interactive Gambling Act that have historically allowed dodgy lottery organisations to sell their products to Western Australians,” Premier Roger Cook said.
“The changes come after strong and sustained advocacy by my government to the Federal Government to ensure the reforms prohibit foreign-matched lotteries and online Keno organisations from circumventing state-based legislation. I am pleased that WA’s concerns have been heard.”
Under the changes, Western Australia’s Lotterywest system is preserved, as are the 500 small businesses that sell Lotterywest products across the state.
Lotterywest is Australia’s only state-owned lottery, which the government says supports the community, with all profits from games directed to Western Australians through prizes and grants.
In the past financial year, more than $1 billion was returned to Western Australians through prizes and subsidies, with $380 million in grants going to 395 organisations.
The small businesses selling Lotterywest games employ 2500 staff statewide. More than 70 per cent of Lotterywest players purchase from a physical retail store, helping to keep local businesses alive.
“A well-regulated national lottery industry is vital to protecting Western Australian consumers, small business, and ensuring our unique Lotterywest model is sustained,” Mr Cook said.
