Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a series of new restrictions on gambling advertising, describing them as the "most significant reform on gambling" Australia has ever seen. However, the measures fall well short of implementing all 31 recommendations from a landmark Labor-led report handed down over 1,000 days ago.
Key Reforms Announced
Speaking at the National Press Club on Thursday, Albanese outlined the government's plan to curb gambling ads. The reforms include a ban on gambling advertising in sports venues and on players' and officials' uniforms. Additionally, gambling ads will be capped to three per hour on broadcast television between 6am and 8:30pm, and banned on radio during school drop-off and pick-up times.
Online Platform Restrictions
For online platforms, gambling ads will only be allowed if a user over 18 has logged into an account, with an option to opt-out. The government will also prohibit celebrities and sports players from appearing in gambling advertisements or odds-style promotions.
Criticism and Shortcomings
Despite Albanese's claims, the announcement has been met with criticism from advocates who argue it does not go far enough. The reforms stop short of a phased-out ban on all forms of online gambling advertising, a key recommendation from the 2023 report led by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy.
Independent MP Kate Chaney, who served on the committee with Murphy, described the response as "big on talk, small on substance." She suggested the measures were designed to appease powerful vested interests rather than reduce harm to Australians suffering from gambling addiction.
Industry and Advocate Reactions
Tim Costello, chief advocate for the Alliance for Gambling Reform, called the announcement a "timid response" but welcomed the prime minister's acknowledgment that children are not being protected from gambling. Costello argued that the onus should be on gambling companies to refrain from advertising, rather than placing the burden on adults to opt-out.
Responsible Wagering Australia, the peak body for the gambling industry, labeled the changes "draconian" and a "kick in the guts," claiming they were made without consultation. Meanwhile, Free TV Australia expressed concern about the revenue impact on broadcasters but welcomed the focus on protecting children and vulnerable Australians.
Political Context and Future Steps
Albanese confirmed that the government will formally table its response to the Murphy report when parliament returns on 12 May, coinciding with the federal budget. The prime minister dismissed suggestions that he had ignored the report's major recommendations, stating that "the government decides positions, not committees."
There is widespread support for gambling reform across parliament, with former opposition leader Peter Dutton committing to a gambling ad blackout around live sports, and the Greens and independent MPs pushing for more stringent measures. Labor backbenchers have also been agitating for action, expressing frustration over the nearly three-year delay in responding to the report.
Additional Measures
In addition to advertising restrictions, the government plans to block illegal offshore gaming sites and ban online "keno-type" products, which account for a significant portion of Australian gambling losses. Albanese emphasized the need to balance allowing adults to gamble with protecting children from pervasive advertising.
"We are getting the balance right, letting adults have a punt if they want to, but making sure that our children don't see betting ads everywhere they look," Albanese said. "We don't want kids growing up thinking that footy and gambling are inextricably linked."
