Australia implements credit card ban for online betting
The RWA CEO says this change is necessary to protect their customers. UK imposed similar ban in 2020.
Responsible Wagering Australia (RWA) has announced that users can no longer use credit cards to pay for any online betting.
This measure has been strongly supported by the RWA and its members since 2021, as they begin their collaboration with the Commonwealth Government and financial service sectors to bring about the change.
RWA CEO Kai Cantwell said this is a necessary protective measure, as it will enable customers to be more in control of their own gambling behavior.
The measure also supports existing management tools for safe gambling by RWA members, and so ensures the protective measure will include all forms of gambling, even those exempted by the ban.
“If consumer protection measures aren’t consistent across all forms of gambling it will incentivise vulnerable Australians to move to less-regulated types of gambling, where they are more at risk of harm.” Cantwell said.
“The National Consumers Protection Framework (NCPF) is expected to be evaluated shortly and we look forward to engaging in this process to ensure that consumer protection tools are fit-for-purpose and support a safe and sustainable regulated gambling environment,” he added.
Australia has always been strict when it comes to responsible gambling efforts. Just recently, AUSTRAC accepted an enforceable undertaking from Sportsbet to enhance the sportsbooks’ compliance with Australia’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) laws.
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