- McGowan Government moves to prevent betting on the outcome of lotteries
- As a result, organisations such as Lottoland will be banned in WA
- New laws will protect Lotterywest and ensure it can continue to support the WA community through its grants program
- Live betting odds will no longer be permitted to be broadcast at prescribed sporting arenas
- Amendments aim to minimise harm to at-risk and problem gamblers
The McGowan Government will today introduce new laws to ban online lottery betting organisations such as Lottoland and minimise harm to at-risk gamblers in Western Australia.
The Gaming and Wagering Legislation Amendment Bill 2018 will expand the powers of the Gaming and Wagering Commission to stop products such as Lottoland, which offer betting on the outcome of domestic and overseas lottery draws, from entering the market.
They will complement the new Commonwealth laws and protect Lotterywest, ensuring it can continue to support the WA community through its grants program.
Over the past 10 years, Lotterywest has returned more than $2.5 billion to the Western Australian community and given away $4.3 billion in prizes.
In 2017-18 Lotterywest delivered a total of $260 million in grants, including $104 million to 785 not-for-profit community organisations and local governments across Western Australia.
Other new initiatives to minimise harm to at-risk and problem gamblers include banning live betting odds being broadcast during sporting events at prescribed sporting arenas and stadiums.
This means people who attend sporting matches at venues including Optus Stadium will not be offered live sporting odds via advertisements on the big screens. Racing venues such as Ascot Racecourse and Gloucester Park will be exempt from the changes.
Additionally, the new laws will also prevent wagering operators that are not licensed in WA from establishing physical terminals in public places, such as shopping centres, remotely linked to their operations outside WA.
The changes will help minimise risk to at-risk and problem gamblers and prevent juveniles from accessing gambling at public places.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
"Online lottery betting organisations, like Lottoland, provide no return to the Western Australian community, which is why we made a firm commitment to ban them in WA.
"The new laws will protect Lotterywest and enable it to continue to provide its outstanding contribution to the community through its grants program.
"Each year, hundreds of grassroots community organisations throughout WA benefit from Lotterywest grants and our new laws will ensure this important work is not put at risk by organisations like Lottoland.
"Stopping live betting odds from being broadcast at sporting venues is an important change that will mean at-risk members of the community will no longer be exposed to advertisements with live betting odds when they attend a sporting match."
As stated by Racing and Gaming Minister Paul Papalia:
"I am pleased to introduce this important piece of legislation today.
"Recently the introduction of what are commonly known as 'synthetic' lotteries have entered the domestic landscape.
"These are often online gambling sites, based overseas, where customers bet on the outcome of a lottery.
"This has caused community concern where customers believe they are buying tickets in a lottery draw, when they are instead betting on the outcome of that lottery.
"The McGowan Labor Government is committed to supporting a strong and sustainable racing and wagering industry, and responsible gambling practices in WA.
"This legislation seeks to balance this with minimising harm to the community by reducing the chances of harm to at-risk and problem gamblers and their families."
