NT bill proposes deposit caps and inducement ban for online bookmakers
A private member's bill in Australia's Northern Territory would impose deposit limits for younger customers, ban inducements and raise maximum penalties for licensed bookmakers.
Independent Northern Territory MLA Justine Davis is scheduled to introduce a private member's bill next Wednesday that would impose deposit caps and an inducement ban on online bookmakers licensed in the Territory.
Under the proposal, monthly deposits would be limited to A$500 (US$347.65) for customers aged 18 to 21 and A$1,000 (US$695.30) for those aged 22 to 24. Bonus bets and VIP schemes would be prohibited. The bill would also create a positive duty requiring licensees to take all reasonable steps to prevent customer harm.
Maximum disciplinary penalties would increase from A$194,000 to A$10 million (US$6.9 million), or 10% of annual revenue. Advertisements likely to be available to children would be banned, and Northern Territory Wagering Commission members would face tighter conflict-of-interest rules, including a public register and a ban on gifts from bookmakers.
The NT licenses 50 online bookmakers, including Sportsbet, Ladbrokes and Bet365. The bill follows a 2023 federal inquiry that recommended a national gambling regulator and an inducement ban. It has support from 33 advocacy organisations and leaders, including independent federal MP Andrew Wilkie. NT Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby said the government would consider sensible proposals on their merits.
Davis said Labor's Chansey Paech told her Labor would support it, and backbencher Dheran Young said the party supported it, while Deputy Opposition Leader Ed Smelt said Labor wants it referred to the NT Legislative Scrutiny Committee.
