The Australian government on Thursday announced sweeping changes to its guidelines for gambling advertisements following years of public encouragement, according to BBC.
Key Takeaways
- The reforms will greatly limit the prevalence of betting companies' advertisements.
- A parliamentary note claimed Australia has more gambling losses per capita than any country.
- Mixed reactions claim the measures do too much and too little.
“The most significant reform on gambling that has ever been implemented” in Australia will take effect Jan. 1, 2027. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told the National Press Club that the government is hoping to find the right balance with the new, long-awaited reforms.
One key area of focus is protecting children from the harmful effects of gambling and the behaviors that can be developed as a result.
“Letting adults have a punt if they want to, but making sure our children don't see betting ads everywhere they look,” he said.
Once the new rules take effect, gambling advertisements will be banned in sports venues and on the jerseys of players and officials. They also will not be aired during any live sports broadcasts from 6 a.m. until 8:30 p.m.
Betting companies will only be allowed to run three television advertisements per hour during the same 14-and-a-half-hour window outlined above. Additionally, radio gambling ads will be blocked during school pick-up and drop-off times, which are usually between 8:30-9 a.m. and 2:45-3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Celebrities and sports figures will also be prohibited from appearing in gambling advertisements.
Finally, gambling ads on online platforms will be banned unless a user is at least 18 years old and has previously logged into a verified betting account on the same device. Individuals will still have the option to opt out of betting ads.
The government will also put more of an emphasis on shutting down illegal offshore betting sites. It may also ban certain types of online gaming apps that resemble casino-style machines and games.
Enjoying Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account
Struggles with problem gambling
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare released a report last October that revealed Australians lost $31.5 billion on gambling, averaging out to roughly $1,527 per person, during the 2022-23 fiscal year. That was up 4.5% from the previous fiscal year’s $1,461, which was still a very high amount.
The report also stated gambling expenditure increased every year since 2019-20 following a steep decline caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additionally, a letter known as Submission 132, published by the Parliament of Australia and written by a redacted author, claimed Australia was in the worst position of any country when it comes to its gambling issues.
“Australia has the highest gambling losses per capita of any country in the world,” the letter reads. “We have less than 0.5% of the world’s population but almost 20% of its poker machines.
“Successive governments have failed to significantly curb betting advertising, resulting in gambling ads being played 948 times a day on free-to-air TV in Victoria alone. This doesn’t count online ads, which exist in the same ecosystem as the fastest-growing form of gambling addiction - online sports betting.”
Mixed opinions
Australia’s new reforms fall short of the sweeping ad bans seen in Italy, Belgium, and Spain but still mark a significant shift.
Responsible Wagering Australia, the primary organization representing betting companies, called the measures “dangerous,” noting the potential destabilization of the gambling industry’s 30,000 jobs.
"Today it's gambling advertising, tomorrow it's alcohol, then it's sugary drinks, fast food, critical minerals, and who knows what else comes next," chief executive Kai Cantwell said.
On the flip side, gambling critics believe anything short of an outright ban is a failure.
"Anything less than a comprehensive ban will continue to expose Australians - especially children - to relentless gambling promotion," Australian Medical Association vice president Julian Rait said in a statement.
