The Australian federal government has formally accepted the key findings of a parliamentary inquiry into online gambling and announced a comprehensive package of national reforms. On Wednesday it published its full response to the Murphy’s Law inquiry, which was launched in 2023.
The measures are a direct response to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs’ report titled ‘You win some, you lose more’, which was informed by 161 submissions, 26 exhibits and 13 public hearings.
Following the report’s release, a years’-long inquiry was opened to determine the best route for tackling gambling harms in the country.
Reinforcing the urgency of regulatory intervention, the government cited recent statistics emphasising the sheer scale of the issue.
Figures from Queensland Treasury revealed Australians lost more than AU$32 billion (US$21 million) on legal forms of gambling during the 2023-24 financial year, equating to approximately AU$1,521 per adult, the highest per capita losses globally according to officials.
Additionally, the Australian Institute of Family Studies estimated in 2024 that around 15% of adults were experiencing, or were at risk of, gambling-related harm.
Academic research referenced in the government response highlighted that each problem gambler could negatively impact up to six other people.
The forthcoming package comprised 31 recommendations focusing on advertising restrictions, which were released in April. The measures are set to commence from 1 January 2027, subject to the passage of relevant legislation.
Advertisements: To ban or not to ban
In 2023, the late MP Peta Murphy tabled an amendment to the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, which included a complete ban on gambling advertising. The new reforms do not include a blanket ban on gambling advertising but the government did opt for various strict harm-reduction measures.
These include:
- A national ban on wagering advertisements during live sports broadcast on free-to-air TV between 6am and 8.30pm.
- A cap of three wagering advertisements per hour per broadcast channel within the restricted timeslot.
- Prohibition of wagering ads in sports venues and on players’ or officials’ uniforms.
- A ban on using celebrities and promoting betting odds in advertisements.
- Radio advertising bans during school drop-off and pick-up hours (8-9am and 3-4pm).
- Extending advertising bans to social media platforms with hosting and platform providers being required to remove illegal content.
- Introduction of a “triple lock” online advertising standards ensuring ads are only shown to logged-in adults who have not opted out.
Dedicated racing channels and TAB outlets will be exempt from the advertising restrictions.
ACMA remains the primary federal enforcement body
As well as the advertising restrictions, the package of reforms included tackling the increase in illegal operators.
Banks will be empowered to block payments to illegal online gambling operators and the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s (ACMA) website-blocking regime will be expanded.
Despite the inquiry recommending a national gambling regulator this will not go ahead. The ACMA will instead remain as the primary federal enforcement body.
BetStop, Australia’s self-exclusion register, will be further promoted as the original report suggested. Following a statutory review, the government committed to improving system usability, boosting promotional efforts, funding ACMA marketing to support BetStop and recovering operational costs from industry participants.
As part of its latest budget, the Australian government on Tuesday unveiled a significant funding package of AU$112.7 million over five years from 2025-26 to reduce gambling harms. Partial funding for these packages will come from an increase in the levy applied to licensed operators that provide access to BetStop.
Reviews, commissions and credit cards
An existing ban – from June 2024 – on using credit cards, credit-like products and digital currencies for online wagering will undergo a mandatory review starting June 2026. Ministers will also retain the authority to extend prohibitions to emerging credit products via legislative instruments.
Funding will double for the Commonwealth Financial Counselling for Gambling programme with an expansion of services to additional regions. The government will also commission a national digital public awareness campaign targeting high-risk groups. This will include young men aged 18-34, First Nations peoples and culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
There will also be an introduction of Commonwealth legislation to criminalise match-fixing offences under the Criminal Code in accordance with international standards set by the Macolin Convention.
The government plans to refine details during the legislative drafting process and will engage in consultations with state and territory governments as well as industry stakeholders, particularly on matters within subnational jurisdictions such as lotteries and race wagering controls.
Kathryn Evans
Kathryn covers bitesize breaking news with a primary focus on EMEA and US legislation. A proud North Walian, fluent Welsh speaker and lifelong Wrexham FC fan – long before Hollywood came calling.
Original article: https://igamingbusiness.com/marketing-affiliates/australian-gov-responds-to-gambling-advertisment-report-reforms/
