Punters Pushed Offshore: Who’s Really to Blame?

If you've been around the betting traps long enough, you'll know the game's changed—drastically. As the Australian government grapples with declining wagering turnover and surging offshore activity, punters like us are left navigating a marketplace that's increasingly hostile to sustainability.

The latest piece from Bren O’Brien, spotlighting the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), reveals the scale of the issue. Australians are spending a reported $1.6 billion annually with offshore, unregulated bookmakers. That figure should terrify anyone who actually cares about racing’s long-term viability.

But here’s the real kicker: the current structure practically encourages punters to go offshore.

Kingsley's Take: What’s Really Driving Punters Away?

At The King Zone, we’re not here to defend illegal operators. But we will always call out the structural issues that drive punters into their arms. Here’s what Kingsley Bartholomew—25+ year professional punter and founder of The Wolf Den—believes needs fixing:

1. Punitive Tax Structures (POCT) Are Squeezing the Life Out of the Market

The Point of Consumption Tax (POCT) has raised the cost of doing business locally. That cost inevitably gets passed onto punters through worse prices, tighter markets, and reduced promotions. Kingsley argues for a rethink—reduce POCT or at the very least, stop raising it—so we can stimulate real turnover growth, not just increase the bookmaker tax burden.

2. Lack of Competition Limits Innovation

When only a handful of corporates dominate the space, true innovation dies. Kingsley is clear: we need to encourage models like Betfair and Topsport that empower punters and create transparency. A healthy ecosystem thrives on diversity, not monopoly.

3. Bookmakers Are Driving Away Their Best Customers

Let’s call it: banning or limiting punters because they win is a race to the bottom. When viable, price-sensitive punters are routinely restricted, they go where they’re allowed to bet. Offshore operators welcome them with open arms. Want to reduce illegal turnover? Start by treating viable punters fairly.

4. Universal Minimum Bet Limits Across All Sports

Minimum bet limits work in racing—why not apply them across all sports too? When punters can bet to win a minimum amount, they engage more, stake more confidently, and stay in the ecosystem longer. This isn’t radical—it’s just common sense.

5. Tabcorp Needs to Lift Its Game

Parimutuel betting should be one of racing’s greatest assets, but sky-high takeout rates and stagnant pool sizes have killed engagement. If Tabcorp genuinely wants to grow tote turnover, it must offer fairer commission structures and incentivise meaningful liquidity.

Why This Matters for Every Punter

At The King Zone, our mission is to help punters stay in the game. But how can they, when they’re boxed out locally and pushed into grey markets? The answer isn’t more regulation—it’s smarter regulation. Regulation that fosters price competition, fairness, and sustainability.

The offshore boom isn’t a mystery—it’s a market signal. Punters are simply acting rationally in an irrational system. If the government, regulators, and racing bodies are serious about protecting local betting, they must listen to the people funding the sport: punters.

As Kingsley always, "Stay in the game." - But let’s make sure there’s a game left to stay in.