Australian Government Faces Growing Pressure to Act on Gambling Ad Reforms
A growing number of Labor MPs are expressing frustration with the slow pace of reforming gambling advertising regulations, calling for Communications Minister Anika Wells to take action. The delay has sparked a "groundswell" of support among lawmakers who want to ban advertisements promoting online wagering.
Despite widespread support for reforms from various parties, including former opposition leader Peter Dutton and Green MPs, the government has been criticized for dragging its feet on implementing measures recommended by a committee report chaired by late Labor MP Peta Murphy in June 2023. The report called for a phased-in ban on all online gambling advertising and other significant changes to the industry.
Labor MP Jerome Laxale recently stated that gambling reform is "unfinished business" for the government, emphasizing the need to deliver real change and address the issue of harm caused by online gambling. Shadow Communications Minister Melissa McIntosh has also accused the government of "dragging the chain," citing concerns about public health and financial impacts on broadcasters.
Documents released under freedom of information laws have revealed that Wells' department conceded that wagering advertising reform is contentious, with stakeholders holding divergent views. The briefing note notes that a gambling ad ban has "widespread support from the public" but also highlights potential financial implications for broadcasters and sports.
A recent investigation by the communications watchdog found six betting agencies in breach of the Betstop register, which aims to protect people who self-exclude from online gambling. Labor MP Kate Chaney emphasized the need for proper regulation of the industry, stating that 949 days since the Murphy review, yet no government response.
The delay has led some in the industry to prepare by changing their advertising strategies, with senior sources indicating that public pressure on the government to act had softened. However, other insiders believe that Labor could move quickly if it decided to take decisive action.
As the issue continues to garner attention from lawmakers and stakeholders, the Australian government is under increasing pressure to address the concerns surrounding gambling advertising regulations and their impact on individuals, families, and society as a whole.
A growing number of Labor MPs are expressing frustration with the slow pace of reforming gambling advertising regulations, calling for Communications Minister Anika Wells to take action. The delay has sparked a "groundswell" of support among lawmakers who want to ban advertisements promoting online wagering.
Despite widespread support for reforms from various parties, including former opposition leader Peter Dutton and Green MPs, the government has been criticized for dragging its feet on implementing measures recommended by a committee report chaired by late Labor MP Peta Murphy in June 2023. The report called for a phased-in ban on all online gambling advertising and other significant changes to the industry.
Labor MP Jerome Laxale recently stated that gambling reform is "unfinished business" for the government, emphasizing the need to deliver real change and address the issue of harm caused by online gambling. Shadow Communications Minister Melissa McIntosh has also accused the government of "dragging the chain," citing concerns about public health and financial impacts on broadcasters.
Documents released under freedom of information laws have revealed that Wells' department conceded that wagering advertising reform is contentious, with stakeholders holding divergent views. The briefing note notes that a gambling ad ban has "widespread support from the public" but also highlights potential financial implications for broadcasters and sports.
A recent investigation by the communications watchdog found six betting agencies in breach of the Betstop register, which aims to protect people who self-exclude from online gambling. Labor MP Kate Chaney emphasized the need for proper regulation of the industry, stating that 949 days since the Murphy review, yet no government response.
The delay has led some in the industry to prepare by changing their advertising strategies, with senior sources indicating that public pressure on the government to act had softened. However, other insiders believe that Labor could move quickly if it decided to take decisive action.
As the issue continues to garner attention from lawmakers and stakeholders, the Australian government is under increasing pressure to address the concerns surrounding gambling advertising regulations and their impact on individuals, families, and society as a whole.
, Australia's slow pace on this one is actually making me worried about how they're gonna tackle online gambling ads. It's like they're waiting for public pressure to build up even more before taking action, which is already happening with the betstop register fines and all that. They need to sort this out ASAP 
- it's not just about the public health implications, but also the impact on broadcasters and sports. I mean, if Labor MPs are getting frustrated, that's a pretty clear indication that something needs to change 
. We should be seeing more from them on this front sooner rather than later...
, slow pace on reforming gambling ads is unacceptable. Labor MPs are right to speak up, 949 days since Murphy's review and still no response? that's a massive delay 
. it's not just about public health concerns or financial impacts on broadcasters, it's about protecting vulnerable people from getting sucked into online wagering 
. the gov't is dragging its feet because they're either scared of the industry's influence or just don't care 
. we need to hold them accountable and push for real change 
.
The public wants a ban on online ads, but the gov's worried about finances and whatnot. I get it, there are some big bucks at stake here, but come on, people's lives aren't just a marketing strategy 
. Some lawmakers are even accusing the gov of dragging its feet... not cool, guys! 
It seems like the industry is already adapting by changing their ads anyway... wasn't the whole point of reforming these regulations so that nobody gets caught in a catch-22?! 
labors got a point w/ this unfinished business tho - it's been ages since that murphy review & still nothin's happened 
so here's hopin labors take action soon & we see some real change 
It's like they're trying to keep the industry in limbo. And don't even get me started on the stakeholders holding divergent views. That's not a reason to delay, that's just an excuse.
And have they even considered the financial implications of banning online gambling ads? I'm sure it'll all work out in the end... eventually.
. Jerome Laxale is spot on when he says this is "unfinished business" - we need real change ASAP! 
And let's be real, if they can't even get this right, how are we supposed to trust them on anything else? 
. I mean, come on, 949 days have passed since that review and still no response? That's unacceptable 
According to the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, there were over 11,000 reported incidents of online gambling-related harm in 2022 alone 
That's a lot of lives affected by the government's slow response to this crisis 
So why is it taking so long for them to act? 
A phased-in ban would be a good start, and the government should aim to have that in place within the next 12-18 months 
I think what needs to happen is for the Communications Minister to just take the lead and announce clear plans for reforming gambling advertising regulations. We need to see some concrete actions being taken now, not after another year or so. 
The industry's already changin its strategies, so whats the point of waitin? We need some real change and fast 
. Its not just about the gov's reputation, its about the lives of ppl who get affected by this stuff 
. Come on, Anika Wells, do somethin' already! 
. I mean, have you tried that oat milk stuff? It's like drinking creamy liquid gold! Anyway, back to this gambling ad thing... I just don't get why it's taking so long for the government to make a move 
. Like, we all know online gambling can be super addictive and harm people's lives. Can't they just, like, do something already? 
labor mp jerome laxale is right tho it's "unfinished business" for the government to tackle this issue and address the harm caused by online gambling 
peter dutton has even expressed support for reforms which is awesome 
families and individuals need protection too 
I'm getting so tired of seeing all these ads for online betting sites everywhere. It's like they're trying to suck every last penny out of us!