Anti-gambling group slams ALP, Albanese over proposed reforms
Criticism of the Albanese government’s proposed gambling reforms has intensified, with the Alliance for Gambling Reform warning that parents are being unfairly burdened with protecting children from online betting ads.
The backlash follows comments by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the National Press Club this week outlining a suite of advertising restrictions, including an opt-out model for online gambling promotions.
Alliance chief advocate Tim Costello said the approach “puts greater onus on parents to always be logging in and opting out of countless apps and sites, it’s ridiculous.” He added: “Not a single parent in this country would opt in to their kids seeing gambling ads – that’s why it’s opt out.”
Under the proposal, online gambling ads would still be permitted unless users are verified as over 18 and choose to opt out, while broadcast advertising would be capped at three ads per hour between 6:00am and 8:30pm. Costello compared the policy to allowing “3 cigarette ads per hour”, arguing it fails to meaningfully reduce exposure.
“We know parents struggle to keep up with a constantly changing digital landscape… kids pretty quickly find a way around these things,” he said, adding the policy “should not claim they are protecting kids.”
Advocates say the reforms fall well short of the 31 recommendations from the Murphy Report, led by the late MP Peta Murphy, which called for a phased ban on all gambling advertising, a national gambling regulator and tighter restrictions on inducements.
Critics also point to broader structural issues in Australia’s gambling framework, where online casino products such as poker remain illegal domestically, driving consumers toward offshore gambling sites beyond local regulation.
Costello said the government’s plan represents a “piece-meal approach” that “fails our children,” adding: “Australian children deserve to grow up in a country that puts their wellbeing before corporate profits.”
Australia has a very popular land-based casino industry that is heavily regulated, with some believing that the tax slug they pay state governments, plays a huge role in the lack a progressive iGaming framework down under.
