Australia has many gambling options for their residents, and the risk of problem gambling is ever-present. Parliament member Nick Xenophon is looking to ensure that future generations are not exposed to gambling at a young age.
Xenophon has gone on record as saying that he believes that iPhone poker applications that allow children to play for fake gambling money, should be banned. Xenophon is concerned that the apps will give children the experience of gambling early in life.
"We already have a big enough gambling problem in this country and there's no doubt this will fuel gambling addiction," said Xenophon, to the AAP news agency. "Kids can become poker machine experts years before they are legally allowed to set eyes on a real machine."
The applications that Xenophon is targeting have been endorsed by big brand casino companies. The casinos offer the free downloads and give players the opportunity to gamble exactly the same as they could in a land-based casino. Many of the apps do not have an age limit recommendation.
"The use of money, albeit fantasy, drills home a false impression that poker machines can be a source of money or income," said Xenophon. "....This is a training application for kids to lose real money when they turn eighteen."
Banning the applications altogether may be impossible in Australia. Xenophon said, however, that he would push for laws that would make it illegal to offer the iPhone gambling apps to children.
Monday, April 26, 2010
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