Australians have an established reputation for being a nation of gambling enthusiasts, currently even holding the top global spot for betting per capita. Given the populace’s ravenous enthusiasm for gambling, regulators are constantly looking to make the local gambling industry as safe and responsible as possible and this has resulted in the creation of some laws and regulations.

Online betting in contention

An increasing number of countries across the globe have started tweaking their laws and attitudes to take full advantage of the opportunities that the online marketplace presents. The casino gaming and sports betting sectors, in particular, have accelerated their development to better ride the wave of digital possibilities. Recent global events have driven innovation in sectors that have also experienced explosive growth over the last year or so.

The Australian gambling marketplace is no exception and there are a plethora of online platforms available to Australians where they can enjoy games like roulette, slots, and poker, with plenty of local listing sites making it easy to find a preferred online provider. The one quirk of this situation is that none of these online casino operators are based in Australia.

The reason for this is that in 2001, the Australian government introduced the Interactive Gambling Act (IGA), which bans offering web-based gambling services to Australian citizens. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is responsible for enforcing the IGA.

Arguably counterintuitive

The Act has drawn criticism from detractors as it only prohibits the provision of online gambling facilities, but not their usage. This means that Australians can freely engage with offshore operators without any consequences.

The AMCA for its part is left to seek out and block the flourishing outcrops of foreign casino sites, which seems to have proven a challenging task thus far as the country’s gamblers take to these platforms in increasing numbers. According to the AMCA, since its first blocking request in November 2019, 263 illegal gambling websites have been blocked, and around 130 sites have voluntarily left the Australian market since the country’s new illegal offshore gambling rules were implemented in 2017.

While many of these sites are run by reputable operators, there is the danger that players can stumble across services that may not have the highest ethics or best practices, leaving them open to risks like losing their money or even having their online identity stolen. Critics have also pointed out that the Australian economy is missing out on potential tax revenue from an industry that could generate billions.

Only time will tell whether the Australian government decides to follow international trends and embrace the concept of a legalised online gambling industry within the country, or if it will continue along its current trajectory in an effort to shield its citizens from the perils of online gambling.​

When the COVID-19 virus was first detected, Australia seemed to be fairly insulated from the worst of the pandemic. However, over the past year and a half, the landscape has changed significantly and Australia is now enduring a series of lockdowns engineered to keep the spread of the sickness at bay.

States such as Queensland have re-implemented government-prescribed anti-COVID-19 health procedures that have had moderate to severe effects on the profitability of many industries. The gambling industry in particular has experienced a mixed bag of consequences with online gambling websites and land-based casinos recording differing results.

The grounding of brick-and-mortar

Australia’s recent wave of lockdowns has meant that popular gambling destinations like Sydney and Queensland are almost completely closed for business with their brick-and-mortar entertainment establishments facing temporary closures. The casinos that have managed to stay open have a litany of pandemic-fighting restrictions to contend with. One of these is Crown Casino that is currently allowed to host a maximum of 300 customers at any time.

These measures, unfortunately, harm the bottom lines of these establishments, exacerbating already reduced turnovers due to most players remaining in their homes. With fresh outbreaks of the virus regularly popping up, even more land-based casinos could be compelled to close down if the rate of infections does not fall.

Doors closed

Brick-and-mortar casino visitors have watched their options shrink as most local venues have shut down amid rising fears associated with the spread of the virus. On the other hand, some casinos have had to suspend business due to a lack of walk-in customers, while others cannot accommodate stringent capacity limits. All of this has led to many players being left without access to their local gambling venues, while others have described the restrictive regulations, like being made to sit down while drinking and eating, as detrimental to their casino experience.

Other gambling-related businesses like offline betting shops have also felt the pinch as they struggle to compete with the attractive no deposit bonuses and other offers available via online casinos. With the absence of clubs, restaurants, and performance events, discerning fans of the gambling experience find themselves searching for simulated experiences and many platforms have responded by boosting their investments in streamlining online gambling.

The online casino sweet spot

Some sectors within the gambling industry have experienced the opposite of devastation in the wake of the pandemic. Recent studies and surveys have revealed a significant surge in online betting, with a report published by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) declaring that 1 in 3 respondents registered a new gambling account with online casinos since the onset of COVID-19 and 1 in 20 respondents revealed that they had started placing real money bets at these casinos. The report additionally notes that younger players (between 18 and 34 years) are the most likely to sign up for online betting accounts and take advantage of the alluring welcome bonuses that most of these sites have in place.

With more land-based casinos closing, gambling websites have seen an influx of customers looking to explore digital versions of the real-money games found in classic gambling halls. Online operators have now been faced with the welcome challenge of optimising and growing their resources and operations to meet the rising influx of transactions and communications. Many players have also ventured into the world of offshore casino websites, putting pressure on local online operators to become more competitive.

Containment breeds compulsion

The convenience of online gambling is a double-edged sword as while it enables players to engage in their favourite pastimes from any location on handheld devices, it represents a significant danger to problem gamblers. Recent studies have revealed that an increasing number of people have developed troublesome gambling behaviours during the pandemic, losing significant amounts of money while wagering online. These players lose where casinos win and regulators, along with support groups, have actively championed new measures like mandatory self-exclusion for at-risk players.

Mixed fortunes

An AIFS survey detailed how the closure of local gambling establishments has had a positive effect on the lives of many as players have been able to save the money that may otherwise have been spent on betting. Some casinos have moved their operations online, but a certain segment of players do not enjoy the simulated experience and have chosen not to engage through these channels.

Regardless of the chaos the industry finds itself in, gambling revenue in Australia has remained stable, even with the lack of sports events. Games of chance have risen to replace sports betting, giving casinos further opportunities to modify their online offerings to meet the needs of a market in flux.​

Sydney residents will likely feel hard done by as the Australian capital city remains under lockdown, while most other cities in the country gradually reopen.

This situation is not without reason as Sydney continues to suffer under waves of Coronavirus infections, giving the government plenty of reason to keep FECs and bars shut for the time being. 239 new infections were recently reported in New South Wales with many hot spots located in the state’s capital.

Bringing down the hammer

In an effort to enforce the lockdown in the city, the army has been deployed and will remain there until at least August 28, ensuring that the local population stick to the rules and do not leave their homes for anything other than essential exercise, shopping or caring for others. In order to comply with the lockdown residents will have to take up online gambling and shopping, and even consider taking part in the cashless pokie trial.

Sydney has already undergone five weeks of lockdown and authorities have laid the blame on a minority who keep breaking the rules and effectively sabotaging efforts to contain the disease. Significant attention has also shifted to those who refuse to get vaccinated.

NSW’s health minister, Brad Hazzard had a particularly stern message for the unvaccinated in a recent interview with The Guardian. He said,

“I would say even more than that, what a ridiculous position is that when you are going to put health staff at risk and when you get sick, you are going to expect to come into the hospital and get paid for by taxpayers. It is time for those who actually think that way to wake up, including commentators who actually don’t base their commentary on logic whatsoever.”

A tough time ahead

Modelling data released by the University of Sydney has revealed that lockdowns in the city may have to continue until as late as mid-September if the city’s vaccination rate reaches 40% by that stage. From a global perspective, Australia has done fairly well in dealing with the pandemic with its total reported infections coming in at just shy of 34 000, a mere drop in the ocean, compared to the USA  which is nearing 36 million reported infections.​

The introduction of smartwatch gambling by the Mobile World Congress in 2014 set off a series of events that have seen the wrist-based pastime rise in iGaming popularity stakes.

Smartphone gambling is easily the most popular alternative to the traditional desktop method, and numerous major players in the iGaming space, including Playtech, Microgaming, and Ladbrokes are looking to the future and embracing the next emerging platform for their offerings. Popular smartwatch models like the AppleWatch, Android Pebble, Moto360, and Android Gear already have a respectable selection of smartphone-optimised gambling apps for players looking for the next level in entertainment portability.

The smartwatch game apps available from Google’s Play Store already number in the thousands. The popularity of using these devices for entertainment purposes is at an all-time high, despite the platform’s largest challenge, namely, the minuscule 1.4-inch average touchscreen size that players have to contend with when spinning digital reels or placing a sports wager.

The pros of smartwatch casino games

Smartwatches offer instant access to your chosen casino games with little possibility of distractions, unlike other mobile platforms where animated banner ads and popups are fairly commonplace and some elements of the game may not be fully optimised for the mobile experience.

Smartwatch casinos and apps provide simplified, more intuitive interfaces, to meet the challenge of smaller displays. Only the most important elements of a game or a real money casino like the menu, the play/spin button, and the bet/wager buttons are included to avoid unnecessary clutter.

Versatility defined

The integration of gambling into this technology means you can access your favourite games and casinos anytime, anywhere while also taking care of your other concerns for the day. You could schedule a meeting then have a quick game of roulette, or perhaps play a couple of spins of your favourite slot while waiting for an incoming email on the same device. Thanks to the wrist strap, you can keep your hands mostly free while playing and avoid the trauma that dropping your cellphone normally triggers.

Super convenience

Smartwatches integrate seamlessly into your life. They are lightweight and often come with a variety of cosmetic customisation options so that your accessory will always match your outfit and your mood. The devices offer a level of comfort of use unmatched by smartphones, tablets, or laptops which have to be carried around and often need to be placed or propped up somewhere to be used comfortably for some functions.

The catch

While the growth of this technology has been impressive, the elephant in the room is ironically the tiny touchscreen size that is guaranteed to frustrate some players, who may need to play for some time before becoming accustomed to it. The wide array of smartwatch designs, operating systems, and shapes, also present unique challenges to developers and can slow down the app development process. The industry is currently on the hunt for universal optimisation solutions that will accommodate all brands, as a lack of market standardisation could seriously hamper the growth of gambling innovation on the platform. There is also the obvious issue of how well a 5-reel game fits on such a small screen with developers working furiously to find solutions.

There have however been encouraging developments, particularly with Android smartwatch pokies. The Thunderstruck smartwatch pokie operates simultaneously on your smartwatch and another paired device like your smartphone or laptop. The smartwatch touchscreen can be used to operate the game while the casino payment and customer support functions will be accessible on the paired device. If you have an LG G Watch, Asus ZenWatch, Samsung Gear Live, or any other compatible smartwatch, you can play Thunderstruck as you’ve never played it before.

Thrilling horizons

Mobile gaming is nothing new, so the transition from smartphones and tablets to smaller, worn devices for online gambling should be simple enough for most people. The number of ‘wrist-warriors’ is likely to increase significantly over the coming years as the iGaming providers refine their offerings with more improvements, enhancements, and standardisation. With the devices themselves becoming increasingly popular, Aussies can expect to see a boom in Android smartwatch pokies and other gambling offerings.​