IIA executive director, Peter Coroneos said, "This is an
important issue for the entire industry because any move to ban
internet gambling just creates further momentum for policies which
not only are unworkable but will damage the industry generally.
While we do not necessarily condone or disapprove of gambling per
se, we believe it is incumbent on industry to offer solutions which
have a real chance of success. We have met with the Prime
Minister's office and have offered to sit down and design a
solution that can work. That offer still stands."
Mr Coroneos added, "the IIA believes that on-line gambling
should be regulated, not banned. The technologies now provide
potentially better protection for end users that is the case
off-line, at casinos or race tracks. In addition, banning will
drive Australians to visit unregulated offshore sites which will
undermine the policy objective of protecting end users here. This
may be well intentioned but is spectacularly ill-conceived" said Mr
Coroneos. There are better ways to do this - and they all involve
industry consultation and co-operation".
Internet casinos are illegal in the UK.
