Another Sportsbook Casino Poker Room Leaves Australia

[PROFRBcom]

This is especially crappy news for us as they are one of the few poker networks still providing games to Australians. Their poker network is called Chico Network.

The sites leaving the market are:

• BetOnline.ag
• Sportsbetting.ag
• TigerGaming.com

Their affiliate program is Commission.bz. Some of you who work with them may have them on your minds as they have recently been being DDoS'd to Hell and back since just before March Madness started... but I digress.

So the long story short here is that as of yesterday, all three sites are exiting the AU gambling market. According to emails sent out with no warning to players, it is due to the recent legislation passed in the later half of 2017.

We appear to have been first to publish this, so here is a link to our story. It has screenshots of player emails from 2 of the 3 sites affected that we have been able to track down so far as well as some more speculation on our part about this move.

We have reached out to Commission.bz reps over Skype and email, though no responses as of yet. It really would be nice if they would share this information with affiliates beforehand... now we have to rush adjust all of our reviews and information pages which are surging with new hits due to affected players... but we have shitty out of date info now due to the lack of warning!

 

[Frank]

does this affect sports or just poker?

 

[PROFRBcom]

does this affect sports or just poker?

All verticals.

If you go to any of the three websites and attempt to create a new account, Australia is no longer to be found in the drop down menu.

 

[Vargoso]

Wow clearly bad news, Australian regulation gotta be very restrictive for Chico doing this, as they offer games in lots of countries with regulations.

 

[PROFRBcom]

Wow clearly bad news, Australian regulation gotta be very restrictive for Chico doing this, as they offer games in lots of countries with regulations.

You can read the newest legislation for yourself right here: http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo...egislation/bills/r5755_first-reps/0001";rec=0

 

[TheGooner]

Thanks for the update.

 

[PROFRBcom]

Well, when I asked for confirmation from commission.bz, all I got back from them was a copy/paste of the email sent out to players.

Mind you in the inquiry we sent we actually linked them to the article we wrote which clearly had screenshots of those emails lol. We were hoping of course that they would read the piece, and correct any mistakes, maybe release a PR statement... you know, things a normal business would do!

*sigh*

In short though, looks like this is a done deal and there is no hope of this being temporary. Shame too. We were getting a decent amount of sign ups with these programs.

 

[Vargoso]

You can read the newest legislation for yourself right here:

Thanks for the link.

I would add this one which is the original "Interactive Gambling Act 2001", the 2016 document is the amendment.
Interactive Gambling Act 2001


And some key changes in the 2016 Amendment, being the main one the illegality of online casino gaming, fully prohibited now.

A person must not provide a prohibited interactive gambling service that has an Australian-customer link (see section 8).

Civil penalty: 7,500 penalty units.

the internet content is prohibited internet gambling content.

 

[Vargoso]

Thanks for the link.

I would add this one which is the original "Interactive Gambling Act 2001", the 2016 document is the amendment.
Interactive Gambling Act 2001


And some key changes in the 2016 Amendment, being the main one the illegality of online casino gaming, fully prohibited now.

I cannot post links or edit posts so:

_w_w_w_.legislation._g_o_v._a_u_/_Details_/_C2017C00291

 

[Kapitalo]

PROFRB.COM

Could you please send me an email with contact infomration (skype or so)? I would like to talk to you!

 

[Timmy2toes]

Why are Australia's legislations so tough?

 

[KasinoKing]

Why are Australia's legislations so tough?

If you can't tax it - ban it.

KK

 

[PROFRBcom]

Why are Australia's legislations so tough?

Brick and mortar casino interests are heavily involved in the creation of the online legislation.

If you can't tax it - ban it.

Gotta love how government thinks right?

 

[Timmy2toes]

Governments are simply filled with criminals in suits & ties. There people are untrustworthy, and are filled with nothing but hypocrite is my opinion.

 

[PROFRBcom]

Governments are simply filled with criminals in suits & ties. There people are untrustworthy, and are filled with nothing but hypocrite is my opinion.

I am quite certain that many people share your thoughts. Particularly in this industry.

 

[B. Scott Taylor]

Well hey, they got out right before they got put on the Predatory affiliate list. I can't help but see a trend here. They are trending downward and not sure how far they will go.

 

[B. Scott Taylor]

I think it is called the rogue affiliates list or something like that. Not easy to find but it is on this site somewhere.

 

[AussieDave]

If you can't tax it - ban it.

From the outside looking in, that may seem like the logical answer.

However, when you start digging deeper, you'll soon discover the Hoteliers Association (pubs which have pokies), along with Aussie Land Based casinos, and RSL's (they have pokies too) are, and have been, losing many Billions of AU$ to off shore gaming, for many, many years.

Yes it affect tax, but more so, the livelihood's of Australian's employed in these sectors. We're not talking a lose of 100 or so jobs. That number is literally in the 1000's. We're not the UK, EU or the USA. Our population is approx 24Mil, and it's a mere speck in the bucket, when compared to the aforementioned countries.

 

[natshalovesfs]

I was planning to operate a poker site. Lastly, Norway banned em and now these sites exiting Australia too

 

[natshalovesfs]

I guess a casino or a gambling site is risky now-a-days. You don't know when they ban you