Australian Inquiry Recommends Complete Online Gambling Advertising Ban

A non-partisan parliamentary committee has recommended a ban on all online gambling advertising in Australia, alongside a simultaneous obligation for locally-licensed iGaming operators to abide by a stronger tranche of consumer protection rules.

These proposals are just two of 31 contained within the ‘You Win Some, You Lose More’ report from the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs.

The report was published this week following the conclusion of the nine-member body’s official inquiry into the current state of the Australian online gambling market.

Phased Premiere

The committee conducted its review so as to ‘apply a public health lens to online gambling’ and is now calling on the government of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to initiate a four-step process that would ultimately see all advertisements for remote gambling and betting sites banned from the beginning of 2027.

The body envisions this process beginning via the initiation of a complete federal prohibition on all online inducements alongside embargos on enticement marketing and the broadcast of gambling-related ads during news and current affairs programs and at times when students are being dropped off or picked up from school.

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The committee went on to suggest that this plan would then encompass a ban on all online gambling-related ads and associated commentary during sporting broadcasts before later extending this embargo to the hours of 6am to 10pm.

The Australian body stated that the final stage of its proposal would see the federal government introduce an absolute prohibition on online gambling and betting site advertisements, which would furthermore encompass a ban on such enterprises displaying their logos in stadiums and on team uniforms.

Supplementary Safety

Regarding the heightened consumer protection obligations, the committee has recommended a change in the law so as to force locally-licensed wagering service providers to verify the identities of their customers. 

The body moreover asked for this to be complemented by a legislated duty of care, a nationwide ban on inducements such as complimentary bets and an increased crackdown on illicit operators.

The 31 recommendations additionally embrace the proposed launch of a comprehensive national gambling harms reduction strategy and the establishment of a federal regulator with ‘the sole purpose of reducing harm and with responsibility for all licensing and regulation’.

The body believes these should be complemented by more independent research, improved data collection and the launch of a countrywide problem gambling education campaign.

Fresh Fees

The committee moreover endorsed a long-running plan that would see all of these funded via an over-arching levy on online wagering service providers to be triennially reviewed following an initial two-year audition. 

The body advised that this cash could be further utilized to support and bring best practices to the nation’s many gambling harms detection, treatment and rehabilitation programs.

Alarming Assertion

Victoria MP Peta Murphy leads the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs and she described Australians as ‘the biggest losers in the world when it comes to gambling’ with the country of almost 27 million people now having ‘a culture where sport and gambling are intrinsically linked’.

“These behaviors are causing increasingly widespread and serious harm to individuals, families and communities,” Murphy said. 

“Gambling advertising and simulated gambling through video games, is grooming children and young people to gamble and encourages riskier behaviour.”

Replacement Relief

Murphy also proclaimed that this ‘torrent of advertising is inescapable’ and is responsible for persuading ‘an impressionable and vulnerable audience to gamble online’.

“A phased and comprehensive ban on online gambling advertising is recommended within three years,” Murphy said. 

“This will give major sports and broadcasters time to find alternative advertisers and sponsors while preventing another generation from experiencing escalating gambling harm.”

Pivotal Proponent

For his part, Albanese called the idea of gambling ads being broadcast during live sporting events ‘pretty reprehensible’ and asserted that his administration will be taking the committee’s recommendations on board as it seeks to implement a comprehensive plan to tackle problem gambling.

“We need to deal with online issues, we need to deal with social media issues, we need to deal with it comprehensively across the board and that's what the Communications Minister Michelle Rowland wants to respond with,” Albanese said.