Australia announces long-awaited crackdown on gambling ads

The Prime Minister of Australia has announced a nationwide crackdown on gambling advertising.

From 2027, gambling firms will be prevented from targeting under-18s through online advertisements. All betting promotions will be banned from sports venues and kits, and TV ads will be limited to three an hour between 6am and 8:30pm.

Anthony Albanese hailed his approach as the ‘right balance’, however it falls short of the 2023 Murphy Report that recommended a total ban on gambling advertising.

‘Imperfect’

Rod Glover, husband of the late Peta Murphy who authored the report, said she would have been “proud” that the Government is acting.

He stated: “The outcome achieved today is not perfect, but policy rarely is. This package represents a significant step forward on an issue the community cares deeply about, and I hope it is supported by all those in parliament and beyond.”

The Government is due to table a formal response to the Murphy report next month.

Sports

According to a 2019 report, partial advertising restrictions on live sport have previously led to more advertising overall.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority stated: “A comparison of the volume of gambling advertising spots in comparable periods before and after the broadcasting rule change found that the total volume of gambling spots on Australian television and radio increased by 50% between 2016–17 and 2018–19”.

Commenting on the upcoming restrictions, Australian Medical Association Vice President Julian Rait commented: “Anything less than a comprehensive ban will continue to expose Australians – especially children – to relentless gambling promotion.”