1998-1999-2000-2001

 

The Parliament of the

Commonwealth of Australia

 

THE SENATE

 

 

 

 

As read a third time

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interactive Gambling Bill 2001

 

No.      , 2001

 

 

 

 

A Bill for an Act about interactive gambling, and for related purposes

   

   

   

Contents

Part 1—Introduction                                                                                                             1

1............ Short title............................................................................................. 1

2............ Commencement................................................................................... 1

3............ Simplified outline................................................................................ 2

4............ Definitions.......................................................................................... 3

5............ Interactive gambling services.............................................................. 8

6............ Prohibited Internet gambling services................................................. 9

8............ Australian-customer link................................................................... 10

8A......... Excluded wagering service................................................................ 10

8B......... Excluded gaming service................................................................... 11

8C......... Designated broadcasting link and designated datacasting link........... 11

8D......... Excluded lottery service.................................................................... 12

9............ Contracts exempt under the Corporations Law................................. 13

9A......... Designated country........................................................................... 13

9B......... Designated country-customer link..................................................... 14

10.......... Exempt services................................................................................ 14

11.......... Extended meaning of use .................................................................. 15

12.......... Crown to be bound........................................................................... 15

13.......... Extension to external Territories........................................................ 15

14.......... Extra-territorial application................................................................ 15

Part 2—Offence of providing an interactive gambling service to customers in Australia              16

15.......... Offence of providing an interactive gambling service to customers in Australia      16

Part 2A—Offence of providing an Australian-based interactive gambling service to customers in designated countries                                                                                         18

15A....... Offence of providing an Australian-based interactive gambling service to customers in designated countries         18

Part 3—Complaints system: prohibited Internet gambling content      20

Division 1—Making of complaints to the ABA                                             20

16.......... Complaints about prohibited Internet gambling content.................... 20

17.......... Complaints about breaches of online provider rules etc.................... 20

18.......... Form of complaint............................................................................. 21

19.......... Residency etc. of complainant........................................................... 21

Division 2—Investigations by the ABA                                                              22

20.......... Investigation of complaints by the ABA........................................... 22

21.......... ABA may investigate matters on its own initiative............................ 23

22.......... Conduct of investigations.................................................................. 23

23.......... Protection from civil proceedings...................................................... 24

Division 3—Action to be taken in relation to a complaint about prohibited Internet gambling content hosted outside Australia                                                                   25

24.......... Action to be taken in relation to a complaint about prohibited Internet gambling content hosted outside Australia  25

25.......... Deferral of action in order to avoid prejudicing a criminal investigation.. 27

26.......... Anti-avoidance—notified Internet content......................................... 27

27.......... Anti-avoidance—special access-prevention notice............................ 28

28.......... Compliance with access-prevention notices...................................... 29

29.......... Notification of Internet content.......................................................... 29

30.......... Application of notifications under this Division................................ 30

31.......... ABA may be taken to have issued access-prevention notices........... 30

Part 4—Complaints system: industry code and industry standard       31

Division 1—Simplified outline                                                                                 31

32.......... Simplified outline.............................................................................. 31

Division 2—Interpretation                                                                                        32

33.......... Industry code.................................................................................... 32

34.......... Industry standard.............................................................................. 32

35.......... Designated Internet gambling matters............................................... 32

Division 3—General principles relating to industry code and industry standard             33

36.......... Statement of regulatory policy........................................................... 33

37.......... Matters that must be dealt with by industry code and industry standard.. 33

Division 4—Industry code                                                                                         36

38.......... Registration of industry code............................................................ 36

39.......... ABA may request code..................................................................... 37

40.......... Publication of notice where no body or association represents Internet service providers        38

41.......... Replacement of industry code........................................................... 38

42.......... Compliance with industry code......................................................... 38

43.......... Formal warnings—breach of industry code...................................... 39

Division 5—Industry standard                                                                               40

44.......... ABA may determine an industry standard if a request for an industry code is not complied with            40

45.......... ABA may determine industry standard where no industry body or association formed           41

46.......... ABA may determine industry standard—total failure of industry code 41

47.......... ABA may determine industry standard—partial failure of industry code 42

48.......... Compliance with industry standard................................................... 44

49.......... Formal warnings—breach of industry standard................................ 44

50.......... Variation of industry standard........................................................... 44

51.......... Revocation of industry standard........................................................ 45

52.......... Public consultation on industry standard........................................... 45

Division 6—Industry code and industry standard to be included on a Register                47

53.......... Industry code and industry standard to be included on a Register..... 47

Part 5—Complaints system: online provider rules                                           48

54.......... Online provider rules........................................................................ 48

55.......... Compliance with online provider rules.............................................. 48

56.......... Remedial directions—breach of online provider rules....................... 48

57.......... Continuing offences.......................................................................... 49

58.......... Formal warnings—breach of online provider rules........................... 49

59.......... Federal Court may order a person to cease supplying Internet carriage services      49

Part 6—Complaints system: protection from civil proceedings                51

60.......... Protection from civil proceedings...................................................... 51

Part 7—Complaints system: review of decisions                                                52

61.......... Review of decisions.......................................................................... 52

Part 7A—Prohibition of advertising of interactive gambling services 54

Division 1—Interpretation: definitions                                                              54

61AA.... Definitions........................................................................................ 54

Division 2—Interpretation: interactive gambling service advertisement             56

61BA.... Basic meaning of interactive gambling service advertisement .......... 56

61BB..... Exception—political communication................................................. 56

61BC..... Exception—Internet sites etc. and business documents..................... 57

61BD.... Exception—premises of providers.................................................... 57

61BE..... Exceptions—management advertisements etc................................... 58

61BF..... Exception—products or services having the same name as an interactive gambling service     58

61BG.... Exception—anti-gambling advertisements........................................ 59

61BH.... Definition.......................................................................................... 59

Division 3—Interpretation: publication of interactive gambling service advertisement              60

61CA.... Basic meaning of publish an interactive gambling service advertisement 60

61CB..... Publish does not include broadcast or datacast.................................. 61

61CC..... Exception—trade communications.................................................... 61

61CD.... Exception—advertisements in telephone directories.......................... 61

61CE..... Exception—ordinary activities of exempt libraries............................ 61

61CF..... Exception—acknowledgments of assistance or support.................... 62

Division 4—Broadcasting or datacasting of interactive gambling service advertisements in Australia                                                                                                                       62

61DA.... Interactive gambling service advertisements not to be broadcast or datacast in Australia         62

61DB.... Accidental or incidental broadcast or datacast permitted.................... 62

61DC.... Broadcast or datacast of advertisements during flights of aircraft..... 63

Division 5—Publication of interactive gambling service advertisements in Australia   63

61EA..... Interactive gambling service advertisements not to be published in Australia           63

61EB..... Periodicals distributed outside Australia—acts of publication permitted  64

61EC..... Australian sporting and cultural events of international significance—acts of publication permitted        65

61ED..... Accidental or incidental publication permitted................................... 66

61EE..... Publication by person not receiving any benefit permitted................ 67

61EF..... Publication of advertisements during flights of aircraft..................... 67

61EG..... Defence—advertising under existing contracts or arrangements....... 67

61EH..... Defence—display of signs before 1 July 2003................................. 68

Division 6—Miscellaneous                                                                                        69

61FA..... Failure to broadcast, datacast or publish advertisement not actionable if this Part would be contravened 69

61FB..... Applications for the purposes of section 61EC................................. 69

61FC..... Review of decisions.......................................................................... 70

61FD..... Additional conditions for licences under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992          71

61FE..... Reports to Parliament........................................................................ 72

Part 8—Miscellaneous                                                                                                        73

62.......... Application of Criminal Code ........................................................... 73

63.......... Conduct by directors, employees and agents..................................... 73

64.......... Service of summons or process on foreign corporations—criminal proceedings     75

65.......... Service of notices.............................................................................. 76

66.......... Application of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 .......................... 76

67.......... Additional ABA function—monitoring compliance with codes and standards        76

68.......... Review before 1 July 2003............................................................... 76

69.......... Operation of State and Territory laws............................................... 77

69A....... Regulations about unenforceability of agreements relating to illegal interactive gambling services          78

70.......... Regulations....................................................................................... 78

 

T his bill originated in the Senate; and, having this day passed, is now ready for presentation to the House of Representatives for its concurrence.

                                          HARRY EVANS

                                      Clerk of the Senate

The Senate

28 June 2001

A Bill for an Act about interactive gambling, and for related purposes

The Parliament of Australia enacts: