Legislation aimed at reforming Australia’s de facto online gambling regulator has been introduced to the Northern Territory parliament. This follows allegations aired by Four Corners, as reported by Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Northern Territory Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby last month tabled amendments to the NT Racing and Wagering Act, which governs the NT Racing and Wagering Commission (NTRWC). Despite having no full-time staff, the commission effectively serves as Australia’s online gambling regulator because 52 bookmakers, including Sportsbet, Bet365 and Ladbrokes, are licensed in the territory for tax purposes.
Investigations by Four Corners and ABC News NT alleged conflicts of interest within the commission, noting that several past commissioners owned racehorses and that its chair had accepted hospitality from bookmakers. The NTRWC has also faced criticism over prolonged delays in resolving complaints from punters.
Under the proposed reforms, the commission would relinquish oversight of racing and greyhound industries to focus solely on regulating NT-licensed bookmakers. New conflict-of-interest provisions would bar commissioners from holding betting accounts or owning racehorses, and require disclosure of any potential conflicts within 10 days.
The Alliance for Gambling Reform described the bill as a “kneejerk, reputational response” rather than substantive reform, calling for a fully resourced, full-time regulator and greater transparency around complaints handling.
By contrast, Sportsbet supported the amendments, stating they would strengthen governance and maintain confidence in the regulatory system.
The legislation is currently under review by the NT Legislative Scrutiny Committee, with a report expected before parliament reconvenes in May.
A 2023 federal parliamentary inquiry recommended establishing a national online gambling regulator, but the proposal was not adopted in the federal government’s recent response
