Key facts
- Australia's government is introducing new restrictions on gambling advertising.
- The reforms include bans on online wagering ads unless platforms implement an opt-out feature for adults.
- Gambling ads will be banned on television during sports broadcasts and capped between 6 am and 8:30 pm.
- Celebrities and sports players will be prohibited from appearing in gambling advertisements.
- The measures are projected to reduce annual gambling spending by $62.7 million, or 0.8%.
Australia's government is implementing a suite of reforms aimed at restricting gambling advertising, responding to mounting public and parliamentary pressure. The measures, announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, follow recommendations from a committee led by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy.
The new regulations will ban online wagering advertisements unless platforms implement a 'triple-lock functionality,' requiring users to be logged in and allowing them to opt-out of gambling ads. This ban will extend to streaming services, podcasts, app stores, and sporting code websites, including NRL and AFL platforms.
Gambling advertisements will also be banned on television during sports broadcasts and capped between 6 am and 8:30 pm. Radio advertisements will be restricted during school drop-off and pick-up times. Furthermore, celebrities and sports players will be prohibited from appearing in gambling ads, and ads will be banned from sports venues and players' uniforms.
A report from the Office of Impact Analysis (OIA) estimates these changes will reduce annual gambling spending by $62.7 million, or 0.8%. The OIA noted that a full ban on gambling ads would have a greater net benefit but would impose a significant burden on the media and sporting industries. The reforms are expected to impact 2,461 industry members and cost around $10 million annually to regulate.
Advocates for gambling reform have criticized the measures as insufficient, with Tim Costello of the Alliance for Gambling Reform calling it a 'timid response.' Independent MP Kate Chaney described the reforms as 'big on talk, small on substance,' suggesting they prioritize vested interests over reducing harm. Independent senator David Pocock accused the government of being 'captured.' The government plans to table a formal response to the Murphy report when parliament returns.