Government announces gambling advertising restrictions. Do they go far enough?
The Australian government announced new restrictions on gambling advertising, including limits on TV ads and bans on promotion during school hours and online without age verification.Summary
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced new gambling advertising restrictions aimed at protecting children and reducing gambling-related harm. These include capping TV ads at three per hour between 6am and 8:30pm, banning radio ads during school pick-up and drop-off times, prohibiting cross-promotion of commentary with odds, and ending advertising on sports jerseys and in stadiums. Online gambling ads will be banned unless users are verified as over 18 and can opt-out. The government will also block illegal offshore gaming sites and ban online keno-type products. While welcomed as a significant step, the reforms have been criticized by some, like Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, for not going far enough, particularly in establishing a national regulator. The changes, based on recommendations from a 2023 parliamentary inquiry report by the late Peta Murphy, are expected to begin on January 1, 2027, pending support from other political parties. A 2024 study revealed that almost two-thirds of Australian adults gambled in 2023, with over one in seven experiencing harm.
(Source：SBS Australia)