The Australian Racing Board (ARB) made renewed calls for the two layers of government - state and federal - to ban betting exchanges. The division of competences between the two layers of government seems to have lead to some legal uncertainty, which the betting exchanges have used to their advantage.

Today, the racing industry is working within each State and Territory with its respective governments to put in place mirroring legislation dealing with advertising, publication of information, and administrative services related to exchange wagering.

The Federal Law, the Interactive Gambling Act, deals with gambling over the internet, but does not specifically ban exchanges. The ARB has been asked by the Federal Government to document the developments since the review of the Interactive Gambling Act, which warranted a further consideration of the issue. The ARB is expected to do this in an extensive submission.

As ARB's Chairman Andrew Ramsden explains: “The terms of this legislation require revision to prevent exchanges damaging an important Australian sport”.