Currently, owners of pubs, clubs and hotels in Australia are allowed to have a dedicated room for slot machines, in contrast to places like the US (where such gaming is usually restricted to specially regulated casinos).
The government’s main concern is that the amount of poker and slot machines is getting out of control, becoming destructive for the public’s health and welfare. It is not only the government that is concerned; many family groups that morally oppose gambling are putting considerable pressure for the change.
If such tightening of controls are placed on venues within Australia, the turn-out could have similar effects to what has been seen in the US, where strict regulations of offline gambling led to the flourishing growth of online gambling.
This may prove to be beneficial for online gambling affiliates, but on the flip side of the coin, the hospitality industry might face severe damage.
