Online keno and offshore lotteries face crackdown in Australia

The government says the review will allow it to better understand the impact of keno and foreign matched lotteries on the community in Australia, and potentially ban each product.

Keno, which is popular in pubs and clubs across the country, is increasingly moving online, the government noted. Foreign matched – or offshore – lotteries, meanwhile, allow consumers to enter lottery draws conducted abroad.

Another variant on the traditional lottery model, where customers bet on the results of the draws, was previously banned in 2019.

The review will explore whether changes to regulations are required, such as payment blocking or other forms of enforcement. It will consider the size of the market for each product, as well as any adverse experiences reported by players.

It will also consider whether section 8D of the 2001 Interactive Gambling Act needs to be amended. This defines an “excluded lottery service” as a service for the conduct of a lottery or a service for the supply of lottery tickets, rather than a traditional draw-based game.

The review will assess whether this clause is still fit for purpose as products evolve.

“The Albanese government has a comprehensive agenda to minimise online wagering harms,” said Minister for Communication, Michelle Rowland. “The growth and availability of online keno and foreign-matched lotteries is particularly concerning.

“It is important to understand the impact these products are having on the community, including vulnerable Australians and small businesses.”

Harm minimisation focus for Australia

The government will conduct a targeted consultation as part of the review and take input from several external bodies.

These include harm minimisation advocates, community and charity organisations, academics, state governments, newsagents, and the wagering industry.

“Our government takes gambling harm seriously and we are committed to protecting consumers,” said Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth. “This includes continuous review and work to address all drivers of gambling harm.”

Previous measures

The review is the latest step the Australia government has taken to protect gamblers and encourage responsible play.

Last month, a ban on gambling with credit cards, other credit-related products and digital currencies came into effect, the final stage in a long-running process to raise player protection standards.

This also resulted in the launch of BetStop, a national self-exclusion register. More than 22,000 Australians have signed up since it went live last August.

The government has also introduced mandatory pre-verification. This requires operators to verify a customer’s identity before they can start betting.

Other steps include replacing the Gamble Responsibly message on wagering advertising with evidence-based taglines. In addition, the government has committed to introducing nationally consistent staff training for gambling companies.