Australian Online Casinos Scolded on Problem Gambling Enticements
The government of New South Wales has condemned an online casino affiliate site for using deceptive advertising to lure victims of problem gambling. The government asked that Internet gaming operators, including a group of the largest online gaming companies in Australia, end any financial association with Bookmaker.com.au.The affiliate is accused by government officials of using fake websites to attract visitors, who are then linked to gambling sites. Kevin Greene, the Gaming and Racing Minister for New South Wales, says the fake addresses were designed to target people having trouble with compulsive gambling.
"Not only do these websites seem to be places offering assistance to those with gambling problems, they immediately redirected people to a website promoting gambling services," said Greene. "This is an appalling tactic that appears to be intentionally designed to prey on vulnerable people in our society looking for help."
One of the suspect sites was GamblersAnonymous.com.au, which automatically forwarded traffic to the Bookmaker affiliate site.
The online casinos contacted all denied any connection to the Bookmaker site, and Sportingbet head Michael Sullivan denounced the ploy and said all affiliate arrangements with Bookmaker had been terminated.
