Calls for Overhaul of NT’s Online Gambling Regulation

Northern Territory crossbenchers are calling for a closer look at how Australia’s de facto online gambling regulator operates, arguing that the system has grown too large and powerful to function without proper oversight.

The Northern Territory is the hub of Australia’s online betting industry, home to 43 corporate bookmakers who are drawn to its low taxes. Together, these companies handle an estimated $50 billion in wagers every year. 

Oversight is handled by the NT Racing and Wagering Commission (NTRWC), which acts as the regulator for the entire country’s online gambling sector. However, more and more questions are raised regarding the commission’s ability to do the task. 

According to a recent Four Corners investigation, the NTRWC only meets once a month, does not have any full-time members, and, except for last week’s report, has not published an annual report since 1993. 

The same investigation also revealed long delays in handling complaints and limited powers to investigate or penalize betting companies.

The NTRWC “Cannot Act” as a National Regulator

During Tuesday night’s parliamentary session, independent MP Justine Davis urged Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby to refer the NT’s Racing and Wagering Act to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee for review. 

The act defines the NTRWC’s authority and outlines the standards for its commissioners.

“If a commission, whose chair accepts hospitality from bookmakers and maintains betting accounts … [and] that has never canceled a [bookmaker] license, despite numerous breaches, is working well within its act, then the act itself has a problem,” Davis said. 

“The NTRWC was never built to be a national regulator, and it cannot act as one.”, Davis added.

“Put the Evidence Forward”

Attorney-General Boothby responded on Wednesday, saying any allegations of misconduct should be backed by evidence. 

“If people have evidence of any real claims and you’ve got proof, then give it to the right body to investigate,” she said. “Put the evidence forward to the groups so that we can, if there are problems, we can fix them.”

Support for a parliamentary review came from several other members, including Greens MP Kat McNamara, independent Yiŋiya Guyula, and former Labor racing minister Chansey Paech, who originally drafted the act.

The NTRWC’s long-overdue annual report revealed the scale of the industry that currently counts 10.1 million registered customers who have placed 1.8 billion bets, resulting in a turnover of $42.4 billion. Despite that, the territory only collected $18.8 million in tax revenue. Australia’s gambling losses now exceed $25 billion a year, the highest per capita in the world, adding urgency to the growing calls for reform.