Australia passes major gambling advertising and harm-reduction reforms

The Australian Parliament has passed the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill, introducing sweeping restrictions on wagering advertisements to reduce harm, particularly to children and vulnerable groups.

Key provisions include a ban on wagering advertisements during live sporting broadcasts between 5:00 am and 8:30 pm, as well as prohibitions on branding at sporting venues and on athlete or official uniforms. The legislation also restricts the promotion of sporting odds and limits the number of wagering advertisements allowed on television.

A central component of the reform is the creation of the AdStop register, an automated opt-out mechanism that will allow citizens to opt out of personalized gambling advertising across multiple digital platforms. Communications Minister Anika Wells indicated that the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) aims to have this register operational within 12 months.

While the government frames these measures as essential protections, industry groups like Responsible Wagering Australia have criticized the bill, arguing it may drive consumers toward unregulated offshore operators. Additionally, some political critics have argued the legislation does not go far enough to meet previous inquiry recommendations.