The Australian government has announced long-awaited gambling advertising reforms, following years of public pressure. The suite of measures will further limit when and where gambling ads can appear, as well as who can star in them - but it stops short of a full ban, which had cross-party support and the backing of numerous community groups.
Restrictions have been fiercely opposed by powerful gambling agencies, as well as media firms and sports organizations who feared a significant revenue hit. Australians lose more money to gambling, per capita, than anywhere else in the world.
In a statement, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated the aim is to get the balance right—allowing adults to gamble while protecting children from exposure to betting advertisements. From January 1, the regulations will cap TV gambling ads to three per hour between 6am and 8:30pm and ban them from live sports broadcasts during these hours. There's also a ban on gambling ads during school pick-up and drop-off times, and restrictions on appearances by celebrities in gambling ads.
These measures have sparked strong reactions across the board. Fans of stricter regulations believe the proposed changes do not go far enough, while industry officials label the new measures as draconian. Responsible Wagering Australia has warned that current changes set a dangerous precedent, suggesting that if the government can regulate gambling ads, it may also turn its gaze toward other industries.
Opponents of partial advertising bans, including Rev. Tim Costello and representatives of the Australian Medical Association, argue that such measures fail to protect vulnerable populations adequately. They advocate for a complete ban on gambling advertising, insisting that anything less will continue to expose Australians, particularly children, to persistent gambling promotions.
