NT bill would cap deposits & ban bookmaker inducements
The Northern Territory bill would also ban bonus bets & VIP schemes for licensed bookmakers.
The hit
A Northern Territory bill would cap monthly deposits at A$500 for bettors aged 18 to 21 & A$1,000 for those aged 22 to 24, according to Yogonet. Independent MLA Justine Davis’s bill would also ban inducements like bonus bets & VIP schemes & impose a duty on bookmakers to prevent harm.
Why it matters
The Northern Territory licenses 50 online bookmakers, including Sportsbet, Ladbrokes & Bet365, making its regulator the de facto national watchdog. Davis says the federal government’s gambling reforms have not gone far enough. Independent federal MP Andrew Wilkie says the bill would make the Territory a national leader & reform “would trickle through the rest of the country”. NT Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby says the government will “consider all sensible proposals on their merits” but “you can’t legislate personal responsibility”.
The record
| Maximum disciplinary penalty rise proposed | A$194,000 to A$10m, or 10% of annual revenue |
|---|---|
| Tax cap already doubled by NT government | A$1.5m to A$3m |
| Advocacy support | letter signed by 33 organisations & leaders |
What happens next
Davis introduces the bill in the Northern Territory parliament next Wednesday. Deputy Opposition Leader Ed Smelt wants it referred to the Legislative Scrutiny Committee; watch whether Labor backs the bill outright or delays it.
Sources: Australia’s NT bill proposes deposit caps and inducement ban for bookmakers
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