In an endeavor to tackle the issue of problem gambling in the country, the Australian federal government has announced a couple of changes that will affect online gambling.

A number of meetings were held in recent weeks that resulted in ministers, in conjunction with state and territory ministers, agreeing to set up a National Consumer Protection Framework.

The federal minister of Human Services, Alan Tudge, commented on the problem by saying that Australian problem gambling was currently triple the number of anywhere else in the world and that measures should therefore be taken.

Australia has a rapidly growing online gambling industry with approximately 800,000 online gambling accounts held by players across the country.

Gambling ministers met in Melbourne last week where they agreed on several strategies that will help to minimize problem gambling in Australia.  These include a voluntary pre-commitment scheme for online gambling and a national self-exclusive register.

It was also agreed among the ministers that there should be a ban on gambling operators providing a line of credit to their players.

Trudge also said that they feel as if there is a complete conflict of interest between gambling companies both being a provider of gambling services and effectively a bank, giving a line of credit to continue using their services, using credit.

Tudge recently unveiled plans to introduce a new bill that could tighten restrictions on offshore gambling operators offering their services to Australians.

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