Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (as depicted in the featured image) has defended the government’s proposed gambling advertising reforms after critics argued the legislation does not go far enough to reduce gambling-related harm.
The bill, introduced to Parliament this week, would significantly tighten how gambling is advertised across television, sport and digital media. However, it stops short of imposing the complete advertising ban recommended by a parliamentary inquiry led by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy in 2023.
Speaking to ABC Radio, PM Albanese rejected claims that the reforms were too weak, saying the legislation actually goes beyond some of the inquiry’s recommendations. “It actually, in some ways, goes further than that report,” Albanese said, noting that the new laws also address online gambling and offshore operators.
“There’s not much point in cutting down sites in Australia and leaving everything open overseas,” the PM stressed. Under the proposed legislation, television gambling advertisements would be limited to three per hour between 6:00 am and 8:30 pm. Gambling commercials would also be completely banned during live sports broadcasts within those hours.
No ads outside venues
The reforms would also prohibit gambling advertising inside stadiums, remove betting logos from players’ jerseys and prevent athletes and social media influencers from promoting gambling products. Albanese said the government was trying to strike a balance between allowing Australians to gamble responsibly and reducing gambling-related harm.
“I’m not against someone having a punt on a Saturday. What I’m against is problem gambling.”
– Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister, Australia
The proposed reforms have been years in the making. Australia first introduced restrictions on gambling advertisements during live sports in 2018, banning such advertising between 5:00 am and 8:30 pm during match broadcasts. Those rules, enforced by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), were designed to reduce children’s exposure to gambling advertising.
Since then, pressure for stronger action has been discussed. In 2023, a parliamentary inquiry chaired by Peta Murphy, the federal member for Dunkley, recommended a phased nationwide ban on gambling advertising, prompting several years of political debate.
Stops short of complete ban
While the government’s latest proposal stops short of a complete ban, ministers argue it substantially strengthens the existing framework. A separate private member’s bill seeking even stricter advertising restrictions also remains before Parliament.
Not everyone is convinced the reforms go far enough. Opposition communications spokesperson Sarah Henderson described the legislation as “undercooked” and said more scrutiny was needed. The Coalition, together with crossbench MPs, has referred the bill to a parliamentary inquiry, which is due to report back on 17 August.
Independent Senator David Pocock was also critical of the government’s approach, arguing children could still be exposed to multiple gambling advertisements during the day. He has called for a national gambling regulator and a ban on inducements such as bonus bets.
The proposed restrictions could also have commercial implications for major betting operators, including Flutter Entertainment and Entain, which operate some of Australia’s most widely used wagering brands. Federal Labor MPs are also suggesting there will be more gambling advertising reforms in the future, as the current proposed laws are being criticised for not going far enough.
The government, however, maintains the reforms strike the right balance between supporting a regulated betting industry and reducing the broader social impact of gambling advertising.
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