Labor to Introduce Gambling Advertising Bill to Parliament Thursday

The federal government plans to introduce gambling advertising legislation to parliament on Thursday. Labor released an exposure draft of the proposal in May, and the final version is scheduled for release on Tuesday. The bill restricts gambling ads on daytime and early evening television and on radio during school pick-up and drop-off hours.

It bans advertisements in stadiums and on player jerseys, prohibits online gambling ads for users under 18, and requires social media platforms to develop an opt-out system for adults. Between 6am and 8:30pm, no more than three gambling advertisements may air per hour; after 8:30pm, promotions may appear during breaks such as half-time or weather delays.

The package includes a levy on wagering companies to fund a public awareness campaign for BetStop, the national self-exclusion register.

Communications Minister Anika Wells said only one in three people who placed a bet in the last 12 months know about BetStop. Macarthur MP Mike Freelander, Labor co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Reducing Gambling Harm, said the bill marks a start but falls short.

"It's very good that we are at least recognising that there is a problem and that we are starting the process of reforming advertising and improving some of the controls, but there is much more that needs to be done," he said.

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young called the reforms "half-arsed" and demanded a parliamentary inquiry. Wells said she would leave any Senate inquiry decision to the Senate but warned that extended review could delay implementation. Independent senator David Pocock proposed amendments including a comprehensive ban on gambling ads across all platforms within three years and a ban on gambling inducements.