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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-AU link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><span style='font-size:24.0pt;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>Bank industry aims to curb credit gambling<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><ul type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>By <b>Colin Brinsden</b><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>Australian Associated Press<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>An hour ago December 5, 2019<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>Banks could ban or limit the use of credit cards for online gambling after launching a public consultation on internet betting.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>The Australian Banking Association CEO Anna Bligh says the banks have an important role to play in helping tackle the issue of problem gambling and are seeking feedback from the community.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>"For many Australians gambling is a form of entertainment and recreation, however for some it can become a problem that potentially has devastating consequence for the individual and their family," Ms Bligh said in a statement on Thursday.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>"As an industry we are currently assessing a number of options to help tackle problem gambling."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>The ABA launched a consultation paper on Thursday, seeking community views on the risks of gambling on credit and what restrictions could be imposed.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>The initiative comes as the federal government passed legislation enabling problem gamblers to ban themselves from online gambling sites.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>The legislation creates a register for punters to opt-out for three months or permanently.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>Gambling websites that fail to promote the register could face penalties.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>Upon registration for self-exclusion, all money in a person's active accounts must be returned once all bets are settled.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>The account must then be closed.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>The Australian Communications and Media Authority would be responsible for implementing the register.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>