Bet365 and Sportsbet back new Australian trade association
Responsible Wagering Australia replaces AWC as the industry’s main trade body, although William Hill and Ladbrokes decline to join
Bet365 and Sportsbet are among the founding members of a new Australian trade body set up to replace the now defunct Australian Wagering Council (AWC).
Responsible Wagering Australia’s (RWA) membership list also includes Betfair, CrownBet and Unibet, all of whom will be bound by a new code of conduct incorporating responsible gambling and harm minimisation commitments.
The body also said it would support government regulation that reduced the level of advertising during sports broadcasts, offered time out options, prohibited sign-up offers on a national basis and phased out credit betting.
The association was launched to continue the work of the AWC, which was shut down earlier this year following the departure of a number of operators.
It will be led by former Labor senator, Stephen Conroy, as executive director and former Liberal senator, Richard Colbeck, who takes up the role of chairman of the board.
“Responsible wagering lies at the heart of many Australians’ enjoyment of their racing and sporting interests,” Colbeck said.
“Responsible Wagering Australia is committed to meeting that need with the highest standard of consumer protection, integrity and harm minimisation.
“I’m really looking forward to working with Stephen, our members and stakeholders to bring about our vision of the world’s best conducted wagering industry.”
However, Ladbrokes and William Hill were notable for their absence and EGR Intel understands the pair opted not to join the new body, with one source citing the RWA’s similarities to the “unsuccessful” AWC as a key reason.
News of the RWA’s launch comes just one week after Belgium-facing operators set up a similar trade association for the country’s gambling sector.