Update: Aussie Gambling Ban List

New revelations on the leaked Australian government secret blocked site list at Wikileaks are adding fuel to the fire Downunder, with the online betting exchange group Betfair reportedly on the list of sites which government agency the Australian Communications and Media Authority wants ISPs to block.

According to the publication Computerworld, Betfair CEO in Australia Andrew Twaits is outraged that the respectable multi-billion dollar company has been blacklisted under the government Internet content filters, a move that could cost the company dearly and is almost certain to trigger litigation if true.

Twaits was unaware that Betfair had been blacklisted when contacted by Computerworld, and said there had been no contact with Betfair by the ACMA prior to the blacklisting.

The global Betfair.com site was one of many legitimate sites blocked by the ACMA, including dentists, bus companies and even a tour operator, all without notification or justification.

“We didn't know [about the ban]. We've been licensed to operate in Australia for three years and have never received a complaint or any allegation that Betfair locally or globally is not permitted to be used by Australians," said a disturbed Twaits. “The global Betfair site is used by Australians every day.”

Under the Interactive Gambling Act, it is illegal for overseas companies to offer gambling services to Australians and Betfair blocks local customers from accessing its UK poker and casino products.

Twaits said Betfair is probably the only company in the world that blocks its customers from accessing the overseas gambling services.

“I need to find out what the implications are and how we got on the list,” Twaits said. “I'm amazed that this has happened.”

B3W's white label poker growing - 02/03/2012 : Online poker software developer B3W's venture into the white label poker market with an all-inclusive product has paid dividends, according to the company, which this week reported that in six months four fully integrated poker rooms had been signed up for its Poker Pack Network.

Betfair public affairs manager speaks out for regulated online gambling - 02/03/2012 : Tom Tuxworth, public affairs manager for the listed British online betting group Betfair, told a South African parliamentary portfolio committee studying the possible legalisation of online gambling that prohibition only drives would-be internet punters to offshore and unregulated websites.

Suzan Smith, problem gambler blows 400k of bosses money - 02/03/2012 : A compulsive online gambler who stole almost GBP 400 000 from her employer was sent to jail in Norfolk, UK this week after a judge criticised her for stealing not only the money but a part of a decent man's life.

NEW IPAD APP FROM BETFAIR - 02/03/2012 : Betfair plc launched its next generation iPad App into the Apple store Friday, announcing that the bespoke native application is a marked enhancement from previous products and is the first to come out of Betfair’s development office in San Francisco

Boxing behind Betfair's latest sponsorship - 02/03/2012 : Betfair is the newest title sponsor of the Matchroom Sport Prizefighter series in a partnership deal that will deliver the online betting exchange branding rights across the ring and provide its customers with expert analysis and in-depth fighter interviews.

Update: Aussie Gambling Ban List - Betfair Included