The Australian, state and territory governments, including Tasmania have introduced the Framework, which provides for a suite of minimum consumer protections for people gambling online. These measures will help players take more control of their gambling activity, and prohibit conduct by providers that encourages harm.​

The Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission was directed to implement these 10 harm minimisation measures to complement Tasmania's existing measures.

Further details on the Framework can be found on the Australian Government's Department of Social Services webpage at: www.dss.gov.au/communities-and-vulnerable-people-programs-services-gambling/gambling-reforms​​.

What do the measures mean for consumers?

The Framework applies to all Australian licensed wagering providers offering online and telephone betting and wagering, requiring they provide easy-to-use tools and information to empower players and minimise the harm from online gambling. 

What are the 10 measures?

• Prohibition of lines of credit: Online wagering providers cannot provide credit to people who gamble on their site or app (with limited exemptions for on-course telephone-based betting services).
  
• Payday lenders: Online wagering consumers must not be referred to a credit provider to finance their wagering activity.​
  
• ​​Reducing timeframes to verify customer identity: Providers must verify their customers' identity within 72 hours of registration. Earlier identification will help to ensure underage people, self‑excluded customers and anyone using a false name do not access online wagering.
• Restrictions on inducements to open accounts: Providers cannot offer any credit, voucher, reward, or other benefit as an incentive to open an account or to refer another person to open an account. This protects consumers from incentive-based marketing and strengthens standards for direct marketing.
  
• Simplifying account closure: Providers must have a simple process for closing an online wagering account. The website and customer accounts pages must clearly display this information.  When a customer closes an account, they cannot be sent any direct marketing material.
  
• Voluntary opt-out pre-commitment scheme: Providers must, at a minimum, offer and effectively promote a voluntary pre‑commitment scheme to customers and prompt customers to set a binding deposit limit before they start gambling. A customer must be able to set and change the functions of their deposit limit via the same channels available to them to place a bet, and cannot increase a limit on the spot
  
• Provision of meaningful, user-friendly activity statements for online wagering: Online wagering providers must issue active customers with monthly activity statements that include specified information on betting activity that increases awareness of their spending, wins and losses.
• Nationally consistent responsible gambling messaging, informed by research and trialling: ​Online wagering providers must incorporate a national suite of revised responsible gambling taglines and directions to support services on a rotational basis to outline the risks and potential harm from online wagering in their advertising, direct marketing, websites, and other communications to their customers.
  
• Staff training in the responsible conduct of online gambling: Staff involved in provision of wagering services are required to complete training in line with the minimum requirements set out in the national Unit of Competency CHCFIN005 - Provide responsible online wagering services. Staff are required to complete the industry-funded training upon commencement of their employment, as well as annual refresher training.  

• A national self‑exclusion register for online wagering: The national register will be administered by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and will involve a simple online registration for an individual to exclude themself from all wagering providers.​
  

Tasmania already has a secure, real-time and accessible exclusion scheme in place known as the Tasmanian Gambling Exclusion Scheme. The national register will integrate with the Tasmanian scheme to avoid duplication of registration for people who want to exclude from online gambling.