Australia delays federal gambling ad reforms as NSW pushes tougher poker machine rules

The Australian federal government’s plan to tighten gambling advertising – limiting TV ads to three per hour, banning celebrity endorsements and prohibiting ads at sporting venues – was sent to a Senate inquiry, pushing the debate back to August 17. Critics say the measures fall short of the recommendations of the 2023 Murphy Report, which called for a phased ban, a national regulator and an education campaign.

In New South Wales, the state Labor Party is preparing a separate package of gambling reforms ahead of the next state election. The proposal includes a moratorium on new poker‑machine licences, higher taxes for clubs earning more than AU$20 million from machines, a ten‑year plan to reduce the total number of machines, and a requirement for facial‑recognition technology in all gaming rooms to enforce the state exclusion register.