Australian betting operators have banded together to form a new industry trade association following the demise of the Australian Wagering Council (AWC).

The AWC gave up the ghost in August after the down under divisions of UK bookies Ladbrokes and William Hill withdrew their support. The rush to the exits followed the AWC’s failed efforts to forestall the Australian government’s ban on online in-play sports betting and other curbs.

This week brought the launch of Responsible Wagering Australia (RWA), a new body espousing a code of conduct that includes responsible gambling and harm-minimization protocols. The group will also support government initiatives to reduce the potential ‘adverse influence’ of gambling during live sports broadcasts.

The RWA’s founding members include Bet365, Betfair, CrownBet, Sportsbet and Unibet. Ladbrokes and Hills have yet to sign on, apparently unconvinced that the RWA will be any more successful than the AWC in influencing Aussie pols to stop treating the online betting industry like a piñata.