The Land Down Under is taking a hard line on underage and addictive wagering with a new regulation that mandates digital gaming platforms to confirm the age and identification of their users *prior* to allowing them to wager or even establish an account. This supersedes the former system which granted companies a 72-hour period to authenticate their clientele.

This action has been lauded by responsible gaming proponents, who assert it will significantly impede minors and those who have barred themselves from gaming websites from falling through the gaps. They also highlight that it will aid in the battle against money cleaning and funding for terrorism.

The positive development is that the majority of internet-based gaming firms in Australia are already prepared to manage these checks promptly, with more than 90% of patrons already being authenticated in real-time. This fresh legislation will guarantee that everyone in the sector is held to the identical elevated benchmark.

Beyond immediate authentication, Australian wagering firms are providing an array of instruments to encourage responsible gaming, such as caps on deposits and self-banning choices. These steps are part of a wider nationwide endeavor to diminish gambling-related harm.

Cantwell stressed that with the impending review of the National Consumer Protection Framework (NCPF), the Responsible Wagering Association (RWA) is keen to contribute. Their goal is to guarantee consumer safeguards are robust and address the requirements of Australians who opt to engage in gambling.

He posited that internet-based gambling platforms already furnish a significant degree of consumer protection. These platforms possess the capability to monitor individual client information instantaneously, enabling them to identify and respond to atypical or worrisome wagering behaviors. Nevertheless, for harm mitigation to be genuinely impactful, regulations must be uniform across all gambling modalities, not solely online.