The Australian government has revealed a series of reforms that look to curb gambling advertising, including capping advertising in day and primetime television, and banning branding on sports uniforms.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced the roll-out of a partial ban on gambling advertising online and on television, designed to protect children from exposure to harm. In his National Press Club address on Thursday, Albanese called it “the most significant reform on gambling that has ever been implemented”.
The announcement comes three years after the 'You Win Some, You Lose More' report, which was delivered from the parliamentary inquiry into online gambling harm, led by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy. The inquiry's 31 recommendations included phasing out gambling advertising altogether on television, online, radio, and in sports venues and on players' outfits, as well as the development of a national online gambling harm reduction strategy.
The government's plan puts a cap of three gambling adverts per hour on television broadcast between 6am and 8:30pm, with a complete ban on adverts during live sport events broadcast during that time. Gambling adverts on the radio will be banned during school pick-up and drop-off times.
Gambling adverts will be banned on online platforms unless the user is logged in and is verified to be over 18, with the option to opt out of seeing gambling-specific advertising. There will also be a crackdown on online lotteries, off-shore gambling, and a ban on online keno products.
Advertising using celebrities or athletes will not be allowed as part of the reform, neither will promotional advertising in sports venues or on uniforms.
The Murphy inquiry recommended gambling advertising on dedicated racing channels and programming should be exempt from the ban, although it is unknown whether Albanese's reform package includes this exception. There is no further information at this time on how the reforms could impact racing.
“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 told the National Press Club. He also said that the government would table a formal response to the Murphy inquiry on May 12.
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