Betfair prevails in Australian online gambling case

AUSTRALIA -- As reported by the Herald Sun: "Australia's $12 billion-a-year punting industry went into a spin after the High Court yesterday overturned state-based restrictions on internet betting. The court ruled Western Australia's outlawing of betting exchanges was invalid, because the Constitution mandates free trade between the states.

"The judgment, in a case brought by controversial betting exchange Betfair, is expected to sweep away a number of other interstate restrictions. These include product fees charged by racing authorities and advertising restrictions.

"Betfair already has Racing Victoria's permission to use its race fields. But the state's harness and greyhound racing fields will also now be available to the company. In a unanimous ruling, seven High Court judges said WA's Betting Control Act of 2007, which banned Betfair from operating in WA and punters from placing bets using Betfair, was a protectionist law...