26/07/2010, Online casino

Federal MP Michael Johnson said he is against election betting and that the laws should forbid institutional betting on elections in Australia.

“It's entirely inappropriate for Australians to bet on the result of an election. Just like the next guy I enjoy betting on two flies (going) up a wall. I just think something like the result of an election, money shouldn't be put on it, given the seriousness of it. There's just something undignified about it. Betting and gambling is already a huge problem in our country,” said federal MP Michael Johnson.

Johnson said he doesn't oppose to casual betting between friends, for example, but he thinks Australia needs to change the gambling laws for prohibiting high street bookies and online sports-books from offering odds on national elections. He said the elections are too serious to be wagered and that wagering is already a black mark on the fabric of the country's democracy.
Mr. Johnson also expressed his concern regarding the possibility that betting on state and national elections could affect the outcome of elections, allowing some political parties to engage in actions of defrauding.

Political wagering has become very popular in Australia lately. The Australian Labor Party and the Coalition, formed by the National Party of Australia, Liberal Party of Australia and Country Liberal Party, are the two political parties that dominate the Australian government.