South Australia has banned gambling on computer games.

The state has become concerned with the potential impact of gambling, but only when the bets are made in the growing eSports arena.

Governments nationwide are being lobbied to legitimise betting on eSports – wildly popular events that pit the world’s top video-gamers against each other.

The Northern Territory has taken the lead in allowing eSports gambling, while SA has gone the other way.

AAP is reporting that the state’s Consumer and Business Affairs Minister John Rau has advised the Independent Gambling Authority not to allow computer sports gambling.

“Children are particularly vulnerable to the attraction of gambling on sporting contests conducted on the platform of video games,” Mr Rau claims.

“The Government is determined to keep our children cyber-safe.

“We do not want them to be introduced to gambling under the guise of a game.”

The Government appears to have done nothing to reduce the risk that children could be seduced by other forms of gambling, such as through catchy prime-time betting advertisements, or the sale of poker chips or decks of cards.

The state has nothing to say about skins gambling in online games – something that already allows kids to gamble online.

It is possible that the ban on computer sports gambling was actually intended to cover the unregulated betting allowed within certain games, something SA senator Nick Xenophon has backed. 

Mr Rau said the government wanted to promote educational games, but not those that promoted betting.

The announcement was made in the lead up to Australia's largest Mario Kart competition at Adelaide’s Titanium Security Arena on the weekend.

Mario Kart is an energy-efficient, emissions-free form of racing that carries no risk of fatality or public liability issues.

The tracks on which racers compete are free of any alcohol, tobacco or sexualised imagery and advertising.  It does not promote the practice of live-baiting, nor does it lead to the euthanasia of any horses.

Result of the weekend’s Mario Kart tournament will be available on the eSports Gamers League page soon.

Senator Xenophon attended the event, and was seen rekindling his love of classic arcade games.