[LINK] Internet gambling ban announced

[Greg Taylor]

At 11:20 28/03/01 +1000, Kevin Littlejohn wrote:
>..
>For the technically minded, you hook up something that keeps a database of
AS 
>number to organisation, and organisation to country, you fill another 
>database _in real time, constantly_, with BGP information to track AS paths 
>for IP's, and you work out in real time, as each request comes in, 
>whether or not the IP number's announcement has a foreign AS number in it's 
>advertisement path (or, in this case of tracking the originator, whether the 
>originating AS in listed as an Australian company or not).
>......

>Basically, it's good for an advisory system, with levels of error, but it's 
>not a good way to make law ;) ....

Nor is yesterday's announcement ;-)

But there's really no need to find a technical solution, unless the
government mandates one in the legislation.  They're pretty stupid but
they're not that stupid, are they?

Gambling sites require users to register and to lodge identification such
as drivers license or passport, residential address and banking details (in
case they actually win anything so their winnings can be returned).  At
least Centrebet requires all this - that's the only one I checked.

None of that is absolutely foolproof of course, but it will deter the
average punter.  So all the gambling sites will need to do I suspect, is to
make best efforts to deny registration to Australian residents, not
implement expensive and uncertain technical methods to determine the
punter's location. 
 
According to the media release, however, the legislation is directed
against "people located in Australia", i.e. not just Australian citizens.  

I guess we'll find out what they have in mind when the legislation comes out.

Greg