Celebrities and sportspeople will no longer be allowed to promote gambling on TV, radio or online as part of a long-awaited and wide-ranging crackdown on betting ads.
An overhaul of the nation’s gambling ad laws will come into effect at the start of 2027, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Thursday, aimed at minimising children’s exposure to gambling.
Under the changes, all gambling ads will be banned during live sport broadcasts shown on TV between 6am and 8.30pm.
When sport isn’t being shown, promotions will be limited to three an hour on TV during those hours.
Gambling ads will be banned on online platforms unless users have been verified to be over the age of 18. Platforms will need to allow users to opt out.
Players’ and officials’ uniforms will not be allowed to display the logos of gambling products and betting ads will be banned in sporting venues.
Radio stations will be banned from playing gambling ads during school pick-up and drop-off times.
The reforms would allow Australians to continue betting while reducing gambling harms, Mr Albanese told the National Press Club.
“We are getting the balance right,” he said.
“Letting adults have a punt if they want to, but making sure that our children don’t see betting ads everywhere they look.
“We don’t want kids growing up thinking that footy and gambling are inextricably linked.”
The reforms stem from a report published by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy in June 2023, which the government has yet to formally respond to.
Mr Albanese said a full response to the review would be tabled on parliament’s next sitting day, scheduled for May 12.
Australian Associated Press is the beating heart of Australian news. AAP is Australia’s only independent national newswire and has been delivering accurate, reliable and fast news content to the media industry, government and corporate sector for 85 years. We keep Australia informed.
