I don't believe you will find there is anything in the legislation that prevents fun. What is being set out to achieve is that laws are in place to prevent uncontrolled gambling, especially when prizes are open to those of a more sinister nature.

If gambling laws are interpreted and implemented properly, it actually works to protect the innocent participant angler from those who may be tempted to fiddle, and please don't kid yourself this doesn't happen. It has in the past and will again in the future should huge value prizes be on offer.

Far from being detrimental, in the long run this move could be exactly what is needed.

Many years ago I attended a surfcasting competition, a huge event where the winning fish was announced and the angler stepped forward to claim a very substantial payout. He took the microphone and announced to the audience he wished to thank them for attending and then informed everyone he had purchased the winning fish from a docked trawler that very morning. He did this simply to prove competitions could be fiddled.

The angler was named Leslie Moncrief, the man who designed the reverse taper surfcasting rod. He was quite a character but a person who could see that where there is a large sum of money, it is open to cheating.