The Australian government is on the verge of enacting significant changes that target gambling advertisements across television and online platforms, with the goal of reducing the exposure of the Australian public, especially children, to such content. Sky News reports that these reforms are still undergoing Cabinet review.
The proposed reforms will include an immediate ban on online gambling advertisements, specifically targeting social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and other digital outlets. On the other hand, television gambling advertising will face a phased ban that could take up to two years to fully implement due to existing contractual obligations.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has been actively engaging with the industry to discuss these impending changes, aiming to tackle three key concerns: the 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 been vocal about the government’s strategies and discussions on this matter in public forums. While there were initial talks about establishing a national online gambling regulator following a parliamentary committee report spearheaded by late Labor MP Peta Murphy, the current focus has shifted towards better coordination and a unified approach with state and territory governments.
The decision to limit gambling advertising has sparked mixed reactions within the government. Some members were surprised by the absence of a national regulator in the reforms, while others, like Minister Bill Shorten, have raised concerns about the potential impact of a complete ban on gambling advertisements, especially on free-to-air media.
During an episode of ABC’s Q&A programme, Shorten remarked, “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 larger set of reforms aimed at effectively addressing problem gambling in Australia. The gradual ban on TV advertising, set to be fully implemented by 2026, allows broadcasters and gambling operators time to adapt to the new regulatory landscape. This phased approach reflects the government’s commitment to engaging with various stakeholders to ensure that the reforms are practical and sustainable.
