Canberra 'cop-out' on online gambling laws The long-awaited review of online gambling laws has been rejected by bookmakers and gambling critics with the federal government accused of "copping out." Fairfax Media reported on Tuesday that the Australian online gambling market would not be opened up to more legal betting avenues until uniform harm minimisation and consumer protection guidelines were in place. Online casino-style games, such as poker, are banned in Australia and a suggested five-year trial of online poker will not go ahead, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy says. The review's key recommendation is for a national uniform harm minimisation standard for online gambling. Senator Conroy has written to state governments to begin talks on the standard. Many other recommendations are contingent on a national standard being set up. Independent senator Nick Xenophon, a long-time gambling critic, labelled the report a "copout" that could create a new wave of problem gamblers. Instead of working with the states for a national standard the government should legislate rules, as it had with poker machine laws. "The government fails to acknowledge the Commonwealth has the power to intervene now and fix up the current loopholes in the legislation," Senator Xenophon said. Instead, it has adopted a fence-sitting approach of waiting for the states and territories to come on board. That's a recipe for delay and inaction. One part of the national standard is to force punters to set deposit limits, which has raised the ire of online bookmakers. The Wagering Council of Australia, which represents online bookies, has rejected plans for pre-commitment on gambling websites, saying the best way to promote responsible gambling online is to have a regulated Australian industry. Chief executive Chris Downy said while the council had always supported a national standard for harm minimisation and consumer protection, the introduction of mandatory pre-commitment was not supported by evidence. Mr Downy said there was no definitive evidence to suggest that online wagering and sports betting has led to a proliferation of problem gambling.