Leaked poll data shows Australian voters could punish the current federal coalition government if it relaxes the ban on online in-play sports betting.

On Sunday, The Australian published details of a Crosby Textor poll commissioned by the Liberal/National government that showed 35% of voters would be less likely to vote for the coalition in this year’s federal election if the government relaxed the online in-play ban. Only 10% said they would be more likely to vote for the coalition if it allowed online in-play bets.

The poll also showed 33% of voters would be more likely to vote for the coalition partners if gambling laws were left as they are or if the government closed the loopholes that enabled Aussie-licensed online betting operators to introduce digital workarounds intended to circumvent the online in-play ban.

The poll found that a mere 21% of respondents supported legal online in-play bets while 61% stood opposed. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of respondents believed the government should more vigorously enforce existing gambling laws via the use of fines and bans, while just 15% stood opposed. Similarly, 65% supported closing loopholes to make online in-play bets explicitly illegal, while just 18% stood opposed.

Officials in the Greek-controlled southern half of Cyprus have reportedly narrowed down their casino applicant shortlist to three operators, all of which have Asian ties.

This weekend, Cypriot media outlet Politis reported that the government bodies overseeing the competition to build the lone casino in southern Cyprus had identified the three most qualified candidates from the original list of eight interested applicants.

Official word won’t be forthcoming until sometime later this week but sources claim that the three highest scoring casino candidates are (ranked highest to lowest) a tandem bid by Florida-based Hard Rock International and Melco; Cambodia’s NagaCorp; and the Philippines’ Bloomberry Resorts Corp.

Politis cited Melco as being based in Macau, which suggests that it was referring to Melco Crown Entertainment, the joint venture of Australian casino operator Crown Resorts and Hong Kong construction firm Melco International Development. But Melco Crown announced in January that it wasn’t planning any Cyprus expansion, suggesting Politis may have confused Melco Crown for Melco International.

Officials in the Greek-controlled southern half of Cyprus have reportedly narrowed down their casino applicant shortlist to three operators, all of which have Asian ties.

This weekend, Cypriot media outlet Politis reported that the government bodies overseeing the competition to build the lone casino in southern Cyprus had identified the three most qualified candidates from the original list of eight interested applicants.

Official word won’t be forthcoming until sometime later this week but sources claim that the three highest scoring casino candidates are (ranked highest to lowest) a tandem bid by Florida-based Hard Rock International and Melco; Cambodia’s NagaCorp; and the Philippines’ Bloomberry Resorts Corp.

Politis cited Melco as being based in Macau, which suggests that it was referring to Melco Crown Entertainment, the joint venture of Australian casino operator Crown Resorts and Hong Kong construction firm Melco International Development. But Melco Crown announced in January that it wasn’t planning any Cyprus expansion, suggesting Politis may have confused Melco Crown for Melco International.