- Cook Labor Government welcomes move to crack down on online gambling products and foreign-matched lotteries
- New laws will protect consumers, small businesses, and WA’s unique Lotterywest model
- Changes come following strong advocacy from the Cook Labor Government
The Cook Labor Government welcomes the Albanese Labor Government’s announcement of a significant crackdown on online keno and foreign-matched lottery products in Australia.
The new laws will close loopholes in the Federal Interactive Gambling Act 2001 that have allowed these products to proliferate in the community.
The reforms come following strong and sustained advocacy by the Cook Labor Government to reduce the significant risk of gambling harm that online keno and foreign-matched lotteries pose. The changes will protect Western Australia’s unique Lotterywest model, Western Australian consumers, and the nearly 500 small businesses that sell Lotterywest products across WA.
Lotterywest is Australia’s only State-owned and operated lottery. It has a long tradition of supporting the WA community, with all available profits from Lotterywest games being returned directly to the WA community through prizes and grants. Last financial year, more than $1 billion was returned to the WA community through lottery prizes and grants, and $380 million was provided through grants to 395 organisations.
This is made possible by the dedication of the almost 500 small businesses who sell Lotterywest games across WA and the 2,500 staff they employ. Small business continues to be the heartbeat of Lotterywest, with more than 70 per cent of players choosing to purchase from a physical retail store.
Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook:
“My government welcomes the Commonwealth Government’s announcement to close critical loopholes in the Interactive Gambling Act that have historically allowed dodgy lottery organisations to sell their products to Western Australians.
“The changes come after strong and sustained advocacy by my government to the Federal Government to ensure the reforms prohibit foreign-matched lotteries and online keno organisations from circumventing State-based legislation. I am pleased that WA’s concerns have been heard.
“A well-regulated national lottery industry is vital to protecting Western Australian consumers, small business, and ensuring our unique Lotterywest model is sustained.”
