Conroy push for gambling harm plan More than $1 billion is estimated to be punted on 2200 illegal overseas gambling websites by Australians every year, with growth expected to continue strongly. Currently 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. On Tuesday the government will release the final report of a review of the nation's interactive gaming laws. The report makes 30 recommendations for governments to consider, but at this stage the federal government is only pursuing a national standard on harm minimisation and consumer protection. The report says any trial of new gaming avenues, such as low-risk poker tournaments, is contingent on a national standard being introduced first. A nationally consistent approach to harm minimisation and consumer protection needs to be agreed before those recommendations are given further consideration. The standard should include the setting up of a national self-exclusion register so punters can ban themselves from multiple sites, not just individual providers, the report says. Online punters should also be given the chance to preset how much they are willing to lose, limiting the number of bets they make, to set deposit limits; and there should be stricter rules around lines of credit and a crackdown on inducements that can be offered by online gambling groups. Punters would also get easier access to personal data about their gambling behaviour so they can track losses, and targeted warning messages alerting them to behaviour that is indicative of addiction. "By using overseas-based online gambling services, Australian consumers cannot guarantee that their personal information will be used securely and appropriately," the report says. Other recommendations made in the report include banning controversial micro-bets - betting on an individual point in tennis or ball-by-ball play in cricket - from the internet but also at physical outlets, to be done by state governments. The report emphasises education on what is legal in Australia. Many punters do not know what is legal here and enforcement of prohibited overseas websites is difficult, so a public register, to be run by the Australian Communications and Media Authority, of illegal sites is recommended. On gambling advertising, the report says the industry should develop a code of conduct and backs the networks' commitment to reduce odds references during broadcasts.