Queensland police sergeant shot by fellow officer during live-fire exercise

Labor has announced it will begin to take steps to make it illegal for
betting companies to allow people to use credit cards when gambling online. Key points:The legislation to implement the ban will be introduced to
parliament later this yearThe ban would not apply to lotteriesA 2019 survey
found 81 per cent of people supported some kind of credit card banThe government says the decision will bring online gambling into line with
other services where credit cards are not allowed.While there is no firm date for when the ban will come into place just yet,
Labor says it plans to introduce legislation to parliament later this year.It will now consult with industry groups and other stakeholders about draft
legislation and how the ban will actually be implemented.The government’s plan is to use the same system rolled out in Australian
casinos to prevent credit card withdrawals from ATMs where bank
identification numbers (BINs) are used to identify and then block credit
card payments. The ban was one of the recommendations from a 2021 parliamentary committee
inquiry that looked at the regulation of credit cards and digital wallets
being used for online gambling.Betting app addicts speak upGambling rates are falling in Australia, but
online betting apps are bucking the trend. Read moreThe report acknowledged that while the proportion of people using credit
cards for online gambling might be low, the harm caused could be
“significant and life changing”.”This committee also notes that the industry peak body for online wagering,
Responsible Wagering Australia, now supports a ban and Tabcorp did not
oppose a ban on the use of credit for online gambling,” it said at the time.Lottery services will be excluded from the ban, which is also in line with
the committee’s recommendations, as the government says they present a low
risk of gambling harm.Ban designed to minimise harmMinister for Communications Michelle Rowland and Minister for Social
Services Amanda Rishworth said the move was in line with community
expectations given there was widespread support to ban credit cards for
online gambling.They pointed to a 2019 survey commissioned by the Australian Banking
Association which found 81 per cent of those surveyed agreed credit cards
should be restricted or banned in some way. Ms Rowland said the decision was in line with the government’s priority to
protect Australians from problem gambling.”It’s as simple as this: People should not be betting with money they do
not have,” she said.”Legislating a ban on the use of credit cards for online gambling will help
protect vulnerable Australians and their loved ones.”Ms Rishworth echoed Ms Rowland’s sentiment, saying it was an area the
government was making sure it took action in.”We’ve implemented new taglines, we’re introducing BetStop, and now with
this latest measure we’re taking further action to help Australians who are
vulnerable to harmful online wagering,” she said.The ministers also said the government would take further advice on the
issue once another current parliamentary inquiry into online gambling had
reported back.