Xenophon and Abbott unite on online gambling

Senator Nick Xenophon joined forces with Coalition leader Tony Abbott on Thursday to hammer the Gillard government's credentials on regulating online gambling.
In a joint statement, Xenophon and the opposition leader said proposed changes to gambling regulations will only increase the number of problem gamblers.
The Federal Government recently released its interim report into the online gambling industry recommending changes be made to laws that has lasted for ten years. Current laws, established by the Howard government, were created to reduce the potential for problem gambling through interactive and online services.
The Gillard government's review of the 2001 Interactive Gambling Act recommends a prohibition be put on micro-betting on sporting games and increased monitoring be put on the availability of pokie machines, but has backed some forms of online gambling, considering continuously developing technology and increased access to overseas online gambling websites.
Opposition leader Tony Abbott commented that current laws on gambling, which prohibits all forms of are an "efficient tool" and "should be amended to further strengthen protection... rather than be liberalised".
The report suggest that by freeing up games such as online poker could encourage international service providers to be licensed by the Australian government. The report also proposes better warnings and safeguards for consumers, by putting in place more regulation and monitoring of online poker.
Senator Xenophon is warning the Government could end up hooked on what he calls the "fool's gold" of gaming revenue, and that a financially struggling government could turn to gambling as a potential revenue source.
He added Australia is already the number one problem gambling hotspot in the world per capita, and the proposed changes could mean the government "will become as hooked on gambling revenue as the states are".