Former Aussie Communications Minister To Head Wagering Council?

By Brian Cullingworth, Last updated Sep 23, 2016

Politician who tried to kill online gambling with internet blocking touted as the next head of lobby group for corporate bookmakers

Remember Australian Senator Stephen Conroy?
He was the rather autocratic communications minister in the Rudd and Gillard Labor governments who oversaw some spectacularly controversial internet and telecommunications issues that included an attempt to introduce a questionable and inaccurate blacklist and ISP blocking on various industries, including online gambling.
So controversial was he, that in June 2009 he was named "Internet villain of the year" at the 11th annual Internet industry awards in the UK, cited as an individual who fit the criteria: "individuals or organisations that have upset the Internet industry and hampered its development."
Earlier this month Conroy announced his retirement from the Australian Senate effective September 30 2016, triggering speculation as to his next ambition.
The Australian Financial Review has just given an indication of where that will be… CEO of the Wagering Council, a lobby group for Australian corporate bookies that is about to undergo a name change to Responsible Gaming Australia.
Wagering Council members include online operators Bet 365, William Hill and CrownBet, and the post has apparently been offered to the Senator.
The AFR refers to the challenges facing such a post, noting that the current Aussie government is about to clampdown on in-play betting via the internet and mobile channels, and the South Australian government's intention to implement "place of consumption" taxes on internet gambling companies.
Wikipedia has an extensive article on the at times colourful but autocratic antics of this soon-to-retire politician.

Online Casino News Courtesy of Infopowa

Brian Cullingworth

Infopowa news was a staple of Casinomeister’s news from 2000 until 2019. Brian Cullingworth was the main writer, contributor, and was one of the most knowledgeable persons I have ever known involved in the online casino industry.

We first met in January 2001 at the ICE in London where I observed him going booth to booth interviewing online casino, software, and licensing jurisdiction representatives. Brian was also heavily involved with our forum as “Jetset“, he was involved as an informal consultant to eCOGRA, the OPA, and was a player advocate who assisted countless aggrieved players with his connections to industry folks. He also published “Casino Cautions” via Infopowa news for quite a number of years. These can be found in our news archives.

His passing in February 2019 was a dark day for us. He will be forever missed.


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