...So any government that doesn't let you play at accredited casinos clearly doesn't care about you. They don't serve you, they serve other interests.
Am I being harsh? I don't think so. I am not talking about cases of a complete 100% ban on any gambling form, or about a regulatory overkill like UK.
I am talking about countries that find "clever tricks" to essentially ban accredited casinos but let others that are practically robbing you with TRTP as low as 50%.
The term 'accredited' is purely a Casinomeister term, and has no significance - legal or advisory - outside of Casinomeister.
The Aussie govt is not interested in whether a casino is accredited, rogue or whatever. It is trying to deny all Australians the right to spend their own money in
any way they choose, in effect pandering to the (minority) anti-gambling lobby, and ignoring the rest of us without even the courtesy of a consultation.
I'm not entirely sure what measures they can enforce against casinos who refuse to comply, as online casinos are outside of Australia's jurisdiction, but not all those casinos are rogue, and for those (non rogue) ones who are sticking with us, I am very grateful.
What are our alternatives?
CM mentions sports betting. I am simply not interested. I like the flashing lights, and the music, and the graphics of slots, as well as the thrill of a potential big win. I can think of nothing more boring than trying to predict sports results, although I did the Pools years ago. Also, to me sports betting borders on hardcore gambling - gambling for gambling's sake. IMHO of course. But more importantly, I love watching certain sports, and I certainly don't want to degrade that experience by bringing sports betting into the equation.
Casinos - none where I live (regional Australia), although the Gold Coast is not that far away.
RSL Clubs: 4 large RSL clubs with numerous pokies within a 10k radius. And about 3 others within a 30k radius. Problem is - the RTP. Also on my last visit to my local RSL, most of the pokies seem to be linked jackpots, which I don't really like. I much prefer stand-alone pokies.
Other clubs: bowling. golf, etc. About 15 near here within a 30k radius. Limited number of pokies in each but having very low RTP.
And all these clubs are packed from opening to closing time. So if the govt is trying to ban online gaming for our health, or wealth, or whatever, they are way off the mark.
If the govt can tax the land-based pokies and casinos, why can't they do that for online?
Because there is a very, very strong anti-online gambling lobby in Australia, and the govt is simply too weak to defy them. So it takes the path of least resistance, and simply rolls over.
Can't the govt see the hypocrisy in its actions? Land-based casinos and clubs can destroy health and wealth as easily as online casinos but they don't seem to perceive these as a threat.
