The Australian government is poised to implement significant reforms targeting gambling advertisements, which will impact both television and online platforms. According to Sky News, these measures, which are still under Cabinet review, aim to mitigate the extensive exposure of the Australian public, especially children, to gambling content.
Phased implementation and legislative focus:
The proposed reforms are expected to introduce a near-immediate ban on online gambling advertisements, with a specific focus on social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and other digital venues. In contrast, television gambling advertising will face a phased ban, potentially taking up to two years to fully implement due to existing contractual obligations.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has reportedly been actively consulting with the industry about these impending changes. The approach seeks to directly address three critical concerns: the current saturation of gambling advertisements, the exposure of children to these ads, and the prevalence of gambling content during sporting events.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth have highlighted the government’s strategies and discussions at various public forums. Despite earlier considerations for a national online gambling regulator as recommended by a parliamentary committee report led by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy, the current discussions have steered away from this path. Instead, the focus has shifted towards better coordination and a unified approach to managing online gaming with state and territory governments.
According to Sky News Australia, Minister Rishworth, speaking on Sky News’ Sunday Agenda, emphasized that the establishment of a national online gambling regulator is not currently on the agenda. However, she affirmed the ongoing dialogue with states and territories about enhancing cooperative efforts in online gaming regulation.
Public and political reactions:
The decision to potentially curtail gambling advertising has garnered mixed reactions. While some members of the government were surprised by the omission of a national regulator in the reforms, others, such as Minister Bill Shorten, have expressed concerns about the broader impacts of an outright ban on gambling advertisements, particularly on free-to-air media.
As iGaming Business reports, during an episode of ABC’s Q&A programme, Shorten commented: “There’s no reason why gambling ads should be on when there’s kids’ shows on. There’s no reason why they should be infiltrating the digital markets where, you know, there’s video games which are encouraging people to gamble. If you kill free-to-air media, what’s going to replace it? And OK, I’m just going to say it – I don’t want Mark Zuckerberg or Facebook in charge of my news feeds. He’s not even paying the Australian media for what they report. So just as we go to a sensible solution.”
The proposed advertising restrictions are part of a broader suite of reforms that aim to address problem gambling in Australia effectively. The partial ban on TV advertising, which would not be fully implemented until 2026, is designed to allow broadcasters and gambling operators adequate time to adjust to the new regulatory environment. This gradual implementation also reflects the government’s intent to engage various stakeholders constructively to ensure that the reforms are both practical and sustainable.
Despite reports from Sky News suggesting that decisions have been finalized, Prime Minister Albanese clarified in a recent press conference that the government is still in the process of finalizing its approach. He reiterated the importance of consultation and the government’s commitment to addressing problem gambling without precipitating unintended negative consequences.