Online Casino Blog

Western Australia is backing plans by James Packer to increase the number of pokies and gambling tables in the Burswood casino in Perth.

 

Terry Waldron the State Racing and Gaming Minister, said that the plan to put an additional 250 gaming machines and 50 extra gambling tables would help turn the Perth gambling mecca into  major tourist and entertainment centre.

 

In return for the proposed expansion the Government would be paid a $20 million up-front fee as well as a progressive tax increase over a period of 5 years.

 

$2 million of the windfall has already been set aside for problem gambling services and a further $500,000 a year would be put into the services as the tax revenue increased.

 

The tax revenue will increase from 22% to 27% over the 5 year period.

 

The Swan River casino is becoming very overcrowded and many people have to queue to use the gaming machines and the tables, particularly at the weekends.

 

The expansion is waiting the approval of the Gaming the Wagering Commission, and if approved, the gaming machines would rise from 1750 to 2000 and the tables from 170 to 220.  The company would invest £350 million to expand the casino over 3 years.  This would bring the Perth casino up to the same standard as casinos in other cities in Australia.

 

Although many people enjoy visiting casinos from time to time, online gambling and poker remain a very popular way for Australians to use the internet for wagering. 

Every country around the world has its own rules and regulations regarding online gambling.  Here in Australia online casinos are not allowed to operate within Australian territory.  So all online ganblers must use sites that operate from overseas.

 

Online casino operators are aware that because each country has its own regulations they must constantly be looking out for new legislation in every country where they have customers.  Rules and regulations are always changing.

 

One example of this is in France, where online gambling laws changed earlier this month.

 

When France opened up its online gambling market to overseas operators they also hit these businesses with a 2% tax increase.

 

Most operators immediately decided they did not want to take this hit to their own profits and therefore passed on the tax increase to their customers.  This brought the cash game rakes up to 7.7%

 

Poker players in France were understandably outraged.

 

One innovative way for players to show their displeasure has been to sign up to a poker table, but not actually take part in the game, causing maximum disruption.  This form of protest seems to be spreading.

 

Site operators are saying that they have been losing money every since France changed its online gambling laws.  However, it seems that players are determined to continue protesting until the 2% tax is repealed, or at least, not passed on to players.

 

It is interesting to keep an eye on what is happening in the world of online casinos, as it is a truly global operation, and what happens in one country may well happen elsewhere.

 

Whilst Australian online gambling remains unregulated and therefore of no tax interest to the Government, this is something that will not make any difference to players here, certainly for the foreseeable future.