Australia’s Betting Regulator Halts Gift-Taking Amid Integrity Concerns
Alastair Shields says commission members will stop taking hospitality while a new code of conduct is being finalised. (ABC News: Pete Garnish)
Australia’s de facto online gambling regulator has announced it will stop accepting gifts and hospitality from betting companies, at least temporarily, following months of scrutiny over conflicts of interest and weak oversight.
Alastair Shields, chair of the Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission (NTRWC), confirmed the pause on Thursday, saying commissioners had “ceased accepting hospitality invitations” while a new code of conduct is being developed.
“The draft code builds on existing frameworks and provides clear guidance for commissioners,” Shields said. “It will ensure independence and transparency.”
Background: Watchdog Under Fire
The NTRWC, which regulates 43 licensed bookmakers — including some of Australia’s biggest online gambling firms — has effectively become the nation’s main online wagering regulator, thanks to the Northern Territory’s low taxes and permissive regulatory environment.
But the body has faced intense criticism in recent months after an ABC Four Corners investigation revealed that some commissioners — including Shields — had accepted tickets and corporate hospitality from betting companies they oversee.
The program also exposed alleged conflicts of interest, with six of the last 10 commissioners owning racehorses and claims that the commission’s enforcement record was “as useless as a chocolate teapot.”
Government Response and Review
In response, the NT government said it had strengthened the commission’s “oversight and integrity frameworks” earlier in the year. However, it has refused to provide details to the ABC despite repeated requests.
On Thursday, the Department of Tourism and Hospitality confirmed an ongoing independent review into the NTRWC’s management of conflicts of interest, gifts, and eligibility for commissioners.
A spokesperson said findings from the review would be released early next year.
“It will have a focus on management of conflicts of interest, gifts and benefits, and eligibility requirements for commission members,” the department said.
No Ban on Racehorse Ownership
While the new code of conduct will formalize rules around hospitality, Shields confirmed it will not ban commissioners from owning racehorses.
“Ownership is permitted under the act, but any conflicts are declared, recorded and managed,” he said.
However, critics say the practice remains deeply problematic for an agency responsible for overseeing the nation’s $50 billion betting industry.
Independent NT politician Justine Davis has called for a full parliamentary inquiry into the NTRWC’s governance — a request that the NT government has so far refused.
Via ABC