The Austral i an Wagering Counci l Ltd (ABN 84 160 199 566)

A Level 12, 95 Pitt Street Sydney NSW 2000 P +61 2 8079 5204 E admin@australianwageringcouncil.com
www.austr al i anwageri ngcounci l . com


AWC WELCOMES RECOGNITION OF OFFSHORE WAGERING THREAT
The announcement by Racing Victoria today to trial an incentive program for licensed
wagering operators to service High Volume, Low Margin (HVLM) punters more
effectively, has been welcomed by the Australian Wagering Council.
Australian Wagering Council CEO, Mr Chris Downy, commented; Racing Victoria has
taken a step forward in recognizing the real threat that punters migrating to offshore,
unlicensed operators poses to racing in Victoria - in terms of both the integrity of the sport
and lost wagering income.
Illegal offshore operators (and local SP bookmakers) pay no product fees or taxes in
Australia and have no commitment to policies of responsible gambling or harm
minimization for clients. They do not have information sharing agreements with Racing
Victoria to assist in the detection of unusual or suspicious betting activity.
A report on interactive gambling, funded by Gambling Research Australia and released in
April 2014, found that at least one-third of interactive gamblers were not concerned about
gambling with offshore providers.

Mr Downy continued; Whether it be the level of product fees levied to bet on racing or the
ability to offer particular bet types, any impact on the competitiveness of the product
offered by Australian licensed wagering operators will drive clients to seek better prices or
different products with offshore, illegal unregulated operators.
Todays announcement also highlights the increasing need for reform of the Interactive
Gambling Act 2001 (Cth), which no longer reflects the current state of technology or
advances in global harm minimization measures.
For example, more than 2300 offshore illegal operators offer online in play betting to
Australian punters, prohibited to be offered within Australia under the Act.
It is estimated in excess of $1Billion is bet offshore by Australians annually.

The Australian Wagering Council represents the interests of licensed online bookmakers in
Australia, including Bet365, Betfair, Ladbrokes, Sportsbet, William Hill Aust Group
(Centrebet, TomWaterhouse.com, Sportingbet) and Unibet.

ENDS
15 August 2014
For further information contact:
AWC Media and Communications Manager, Mary Collier 0403 506 073