Federal cabinet considering complete ban on online gambling ads
The Federal cabinet is reportedly considering gambling advertising reforms that would see an immediate ban on online ads and a two-year deadline for television and audio commercials.
Sky News reports that a blanket ban on advertising is not being considered, despite this being the major recommendation out of a parliamentary inquiry lead by the late Labor MP, Peta Murphy.
The reforms will focus on three key areas: exposure of children to gambling commercials, promotions running during and just before sporting matches, and the overall saturation of gambling ads.
Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth told Sky News that appointing a gambling regulator is “not in the discussions with states and territories”, who are instead discussing “how we better co-ordinate and move forward a unified effort when it comes to online gaming”.
The two-year timeline for broadcasters is to allow for current contracts between the wagering companies and the network to be completed.
Free-to-air television networks and metro radio stations are currently fighting not to lose the $238.6 million in gambling advertising revenue they make in each calendar year.
Speaking to Mumbrella, a spokesperson for Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said: “The Albanese Government takes seriously our responsibility to protect Australians – particularly children and young people – from the harms of online gambling.
“We are consulting stakeholders on a proposed model that focuses on addressing the connection between wagering and sport, reducing the exposure of children to online wagering advertising, and tackling the saturation of gambling ads.
“We must get this right to deliver both harm reduction and cultural change and we will have more to say in due course.”
Speaking to Mumbrella last week, Seven’s news boss Anthony De Ceglie said the conversation around banning gambling is a divisive one.
“I think it’s always a little bit dangerous when you start using the term ‘ban’ in a free market. But then, on the flip side, I think anti-siphoning is super important, too,” he said.
“I don’t think anyone wants to wake up in a world where Australians have to pay to watch sports. We just had the Olympics. We’re a very, very proud sporting country and there’s a real possibility that five-ten years from now that Australians will have to pay to watch Aussie rules.”
Anthony Albanese spoke out against the levels of online gambling last year, after the initial parliamentary inquiry, telling ABC Radio “that the idea you’re watching a footy game and, on comes an ad for gambling, I find pretty reprehensible.”
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I’m sorry but Australians are already having to pay to watch AFL on a Saturday in 2025. For the first 11 rounds you cant watch a AFL game at home for free – its a Kayo/Foxtel exclusive.
Times up for free sports I’m afraid and its not gambling ad spend that will go anywhere near saving it – $238m is nothing on the billions a year the networks have committed to codes. Its the structural change on eth media landscape. Don’t for 1 min believe that allowing gambling ads on television will save sports being free for Australians.
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