Australia has been a hotbed for poker for well over a decade, even before Joe Hachem’s triumph in the 2005 World Series of Poker Main Event. The upcoming Australian elections, which will determine the next Prime Minister for the nation, could put an end to online poker, however.

In an examination of the upcoming Australian elections, writer Tim Napper of PokerAsiaPacific.com laid out what is at stake when Australians head to the ballot box on September 7. The incumbent, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd of the Labor Party, would likely not look to change much if he is reelected to his position, according to Napper. “We will be able to access and play online poker as we do now, but it will still exist in a legal gray area,” Napper wrote.

The Labor Party has been rather forward thinking on the subject of online poker. Rudd’s predecessor, Julia Gillard, at one point was looking into making online poker legal while outlawing other forms of online gambling. Although Gilliard was unable to get a law passed allowing for online poker, the Labor Party has not cracked down severely on the industry.

The Liberal Party, however, is taking another approach when it comes to online poker. Its candidate for Prime Minister, Tony Abbott (pictured), and the party have stated as recently as last month that they would outlaw online poker. “There are ongoing community concerns that the current laws prohibiting certain online gambling, such as online poker and other casino games, are not being enforced,” a position paper from the Liberal Party entitled “Policy to Help Problem Gamblers” stated last month. “[We] will investigate methods of strengthening the enforcement of the IGA and ensuring Australians are protected from online gambling operators.”

Other political factions and candidates have differing viewpoints on the subject of online poker in Australia. The Green Party was a key force behind the removal of an application from the Apple store that allowed Aussie players to take part in PokerStars’ offerings. Napper believed that if the Liberal Party were to win the election and take over the Australian Government, the Green Party would back its pursuit of banning online poker.

Someone who could be a friend of online poker is IndependentAndrew Wilkie, Napper observed. Although he has led the charge for the banishment of video poker machines, Wilkie believes that online poker should be regulated and legalized in Australia. His belief comes from the thought that the machines are more problematic, while online poker is lower risk.

Another potential power player in the Australian Parliament, Nick Xenophon, completely opposes any online gaming and, if he were able to improve on his stance in Parliament, Napper believed the outcome for online poker in Australia would be “disastrous.”

“The status quo for online poker in Australia is the best we can hope for after this election,” Napper concluded.

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