Australia reports cocnerning rise in underage gambling
According to data from The Australia Institute, one in three young people aged 12 to 19 are gambling, with nearly 900,000 teens involved.During the 2022–23 financial...
Australia delays gambling advertising reforms to 2025
Initially set to be introduced in late 2024, on November 25, Australia’s Labour government announced that gambling advertising reforms would be delayed until 2025.
The gambling advertising reforms included a ban on gambling ads one hour before and after live sports, capping ads at two per hour, and a blackout during children’s programming sparked by the 2023 Murphy Report, aimed to tackle concerns about gambling’s impact on society and sport.
And now, the delay has drawn criticism from independent MPs and anti-gambling advocates, who blame the government for not surviving the industry pressure.
Australia’s Sports Minister, Anika Wells, said:
“I’ve got concerns about how [gambling] is impacting sport integrity and how this is impacting our athletes who are being targeted by people because of this. On the flip side, I have national sporting organisations, professional codes worried about how this will impact the viability of their financial models. So, on both sides that I need to look at, I think it needs more nuanced work. I’m looking forward to continuing to work with Minister Rowland on recommendations.”
Assistant Minister for the Treasury, Andrew Leigh, commented:
“It’s quite clear at the moment the numbers aren’t there to progress the reforms the government has put through which would significantly curtail gambling ads around major sporting events so there would be a blackout period before and after sporting events. It would massively reduce the number of gambling ads that people see on TV.”
The gambling industry prefers lighter restrictions, such as a short ban on live sports and a three-ad cap outside of events. Meanwhile, the Green Party calls for a total advertising ban.
FAQs
Is gambling legal in Australia?
Gambling in Australia is legal.
What is the legal gambling age in Australia?
The legal gambling age in Australia is 18.
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