After years of inaction, the Australian government appears poised to continue caving to the gambling sector.

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will announce a plan to:

• Cap the number of gambling ads on TV
• Increase the blackout period for sports ads around matches
• Require social media and streaming services to allow an “opt out” of gambling content
• Phase-in a gambling ban in stadiums and on jerseys
• Restrict gambling ads around school pick-up times

On average, Australians spend about $1,600 on gambling each year, among the highest per capita losses in the world. According to The Guardian, a majority of Australians support a total gambling ad ban, not mere restrictions.

Reaction to Australian Gambling Ad Reform

“These are far short of the reforms needed to meaningfully reduce gambling hams,” Sally Gainsbury, a globally-recognized gambling harms expert from the University of Sydney, wrote on LinkedIn.

Mark Kempster, an advocate with the Australia-based Alliance for Gambling Reform, also criticized the proposals. He called the reforms “completely inadequate” and “watered down.”

“It shows he lacks any courage and is owned by gambling industries and sporting codes in Australia,” Kempster said. “Anything short of Peta Murphy’s inquiry recommendations of a Total Advertising Ban, a ban on inducements, and a national regulator will be a complete slap in the face to anyone who has been harmed by this predatory industry and gave evidence at the inquiry.”

The Australian Greens, a political party, also blasted Albanese.

“The reported plan from the Albanese Government appears to fall short of the real reform needed to stand up to the gambling lobby and protect Australians but we will await the details of the proposal. Any reform must genuinely reflect the key recommendations of the Murphy Report and respond to the real harm that gambling is causing to families across Australia. 

“Online advertising is where the real harm and where gambling promotion to young people has exploded – so any changes will need to meaningfully address this to protect Australians of all ages from the predatory behaviour of gambling companies. The Government’s own review called for a total ban on gambling ads, not half-measures that leave Australians exposed to the gambling vultures.”