Gambling website preys on addicts

Australian problem gamblers who search the web for help from Gamblers Anonymous have instead been redirected to big betting agencies, exhorting them to ''place a bet now''.

The first step many problem gamblers would take when researching how to cure their addiction would likely be to surf to the website gamblersanonymous.com.au, just like alcoholics may look at alcoholicsanonymous.com.au.

But instead of finding help, people browsing gamblersanonymous.com.au have up until yesterday been automatically redirected to bookmaker.com.au, a website containing little more than advertisements for Australia's big betting agencies: Sportsbet, Centrebet, Sportingbet and IASbet.

The agencies said they were not connected to the site in any way. It was likely set up by an affiliate marketing company, however, each agency paid the operators of the website a commission for every gambler sent their way.

By yesterday afternoon, following queries from this reporter, the gamblersanonymous.com.au website began redirecting to the official website of Gamblers Anonymous.

Reverend Tim Costello, a problem-gambling campaigner and CEO of World Vision Australia, said the move was ''one of the most socially irresponsible, sinister things I've heard of''.

''It's outrageous - it's really putting Dracula in charge of the blood bank,'' he said.

Gabriela Byrne, who was addicted to poker machines for five years before she became an anti-gambling campaigner, said she believed the move was designed to lure ''a whole new generation'' of problem gamblers.

''I know a lot of people that surf the net everyday typing in gambling or gamblers anonymous and what they're really wanting is some support,'' she said.

NSW Gaming and Racing Minister Kevin Greene said his office had contacted each of Australia's largest gambling websites and called on them to condemn the deceptive advertising and remove their advertisements from the site.

He called it a ''disgusting attempt to cash in on the problems of others''.

''This is an appalling tactic that appears to be intentionally designed to prey on vulnerable people in our society looking for help," he said.

"Each of these Australian companies are based in the Northern Territory and this website clearly contravenes advertising standards under the Northern Territory's Responsible Gambling Code.''

Independent Senator Nick Xenophon said: ''Domain names are legitimised through an act of Federal Parliament and I believe there should be severe penalties for corporate cannibals who act in this way.''

A spokesman for bookmaker.com.au, who runs a slew of gambling-related marketing websites, said on condition of anonymity that the entire situation was unintentional.

The spokesman claimed that gamblersanonymous.com.au was redirecting to bookmaker.com.au because it had not yet been set up.

''As soon as we were notified it was changed,'' he said.

Michael Sullivan, CEO of sportingbet.com.au, said the conduct was ''totally unacceptable'' and that his company's relationship with website operator had now been terminated.

Sportsbet spokesman Matt Tripp said he would be ''taking immediate action to put a stop to it and make sure that those people are not allowed to do it in future''.

Centrebet spokesman Neil Evans said he was looking into the matter as he was unaware of the site.

Gamblers Anonymous, a legitimate problem gambling program that holds help meetings around the world, could not be reached for comment on the matter. It is not connected in any way to bookmaker.com.au.