Labor Government Proposes Single Opt-Out Register for Online Gambling Ads

The Albanese administration has introduced a third wagering-advertising bill that creates a “Wagering Advertising Opt-out Register.” The register would act as a single mechanism for Australians to block wagering ads on online content platforms and would be administered by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). A levy on licensed interactive wagering service providers would fund the register, shifting regulatory costs from taxpayers to the industry. The government aims for the register to be operational by 1 January 2027, although officials acknowledge that final details remain unresolved.

The Guardian

The new focus on “inducements” follows a Senate inquiry that highlighted concerns about aggressive marketing practices. Parliamentary hearings this month alleged that some wagering firms supplied illegal drugs and access to sex workers to retain problem gamblers, claims denied by betting giants Sportsbet and Tabcorp. Earlier reforms, guided by Peta Murphy’s 2023 report, introduced a “triple-lock” system requiring users to be logged in, over 18, and offering an opt-out feature—an approach critics said was hard to locate and under-used.

The Guardian

She emphasized that the levy would ensure the wagering industry, rather than taxpayers, bears regulatory costs. Government sources said the bills are expected to pass both houses before the end of the week, and that negotiations with opposition leader Angus Taylor are ongoing.

The Guardian

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young rejected the bill, calling for a full online ad ban, a national gambling regulator, and an outright prohibition of inducements. Independent senator David Pocock argued the measure would fail to protect children and would preserve the link between sport and gambling, noting that only 130,000 of 15 million SBS on-demand users had opted out of gambling ads. Coalition senators Sarah Henderson and Dean Smith praised the wagering industry’s role but also warned the legislation falls “well short” after three years of policy development.

The Guardian

• “The government has listened carefully to the evidence presented during the recent Senate inquiry and through ongoing stakeholder engagement. We are particularly concerned by evidence about wagering inducements and the role these practices can play in encouraging gambling and exacerbating gambling-related harm,” — Anika Wells

The Guardian

• “This bill enables the ACMA to recover the costs of those activities through a levy imposed on licensed interactive wagering service providers. It is appropriate that the wagering industry, rather than taxpayers, bears the costs of regulating these activities,” — Anika Wells

The Guardian