The 2025 Regulating the Game (RtG 2025) conference in Sydney served as the perfect platform for discussions about key issues relating to the global gambling industry.
Industry leaders, policymakers and compliance professionals were in attendance as guests from around the world graced the Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour in record-breaking numbers.
Some of the most influential voices in the industry aired their opinions on the state of the sector both in Australia and around the world and discussed ways to move forward.
Here is a recap of a hugely informative conference that reinforced its position as a must-attend event for anyone who is anyone in the global gambling sector.
Delegates Debate Key Economic and Regulatory Matters
One of the hottest topics was the impact of increased taxation on corporate bookmakers. Sportsbet chief executive officer (CEO) Barni Evans delivered an impassioned speech about policy changes.
The government has been lobbying Sportsbet market rivals Tabcorp to increase the Point of Consumption taxes charged to Australia’s corporate bookmakers, but Evans is not having it.
He ripped into those plans, labelling them as ‘destructive’ for the industry. Evans says taxation should be structured in a way that helps all stakeholders thrive in a highly competitive industry.
“All [corporate operators] are making less money than they were before,” he said. “I think PointsBet, the year before last, as a publicly listed company, said their objective in 2024 was to break even.
“Imagine being a shareholder in a company that told you their objective in the year was to make no money! That’s the real impact of taxation, and like any commercial organisation, we’re all responding in commercial ways. Overrounds (an approximation of a bookmaker’s edge) have climbed up a bit.
“We need to be very, very careful about that because customers are very sensitive when they don’t get the right price on their favourite that they think is going to win.
“All brands in the market have slightly suppressed their generosity (comps) because, for most companies, that’s their biggest cost centre.”
Taxation is a significant issue for reputable bookmakers. The commercial pressure has forced many sportsbooks to limit the number of betting bonuses they offer to punters.
This makes it tougher to attract new customers and retain existing ones, and Evans believes the Aussie government must revise its position on betting taxation.
Sydney Conference was a Platform for Leadership and Reform
The former CEO of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), Michael Phelan APM, spoke at length about regulatory integrity in gaming.
Phelan lifted the lid on the fight against financial crime, risk mitigation and how law enforcement organisations work together to keep things running smoothly.
This served to highlight the challenges other regulators from around the world face in keeping such issues away from their respective gambling sectors.
After Phelan’s powerful curtain raiser, Crown Resorts CEO David Tsai took to the stage to introduce PlaySafe – an initiative that promotes safer gambling practices through technology-driven solutions.
Tsai’s presentation proved that corporations also have to be held accountable because they have a huge role to play in creating a safe environment for responsible gambling.
An Aussie writer renowned for capturing the trials and tribulations of being an obsessive sports fan, Titus O’Reily, talked about the rise, fall and resurgence of gambling in Australia.
Dr Ron Ben-David of the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) provided an unbiased perspective on the evolving landscape, responsibilities and challenges facing regulators today.
Professor Alison Taylor talked about building ethical corporate cultures and stressed the need for businesses to carry out their operations with a great degree of integrity.
However, one of the most attention-grabbing presentations came from the CEO of the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC).
Brendan Thomas discussed the fight against financial crime, especially through anti-money laundering (AML) regulations.
He also talked about the risks associated with performing transactions in the gambling sector and called for more stringent measures to ensure bettors can safely go about their business.
