Australian Parliament Passes Revised Gambling Advertising Reforms

Labor’s gambling-advertising package was approved after a last-minute deal with the Liberal-National Coalition. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and communications minister Anika Wells secured cross-bench support, while two Coalition MPs—Andrew Wallace and Pat Conaghan—crossed the floor to oppose several amendments. The bill introduces an opt-out register for gambling ads, extends blackout periods before live sport, tightens TV ad timing, and bans inducements for customers identified as at risk. Government sources said the register could take up to 12 months to set up and is unlikely to be ready by 1 January 2027.

The Guardian

The reforms follow the Peta Murphy-led review released 1,149 days earlier, which recommended a total ban on gambling inducements and wagering ads. Labor’s final version retains many original proposals—such as banning ads on player jerseys and a “triple-lock” for online ads—but stops short of the Murphy report’s full ban, opting instead for a voluntary “opt-out” mechanism that has yet to be named.

The Guardian

She added that all inducement ads will be prohibited for customers identified as at risk, for 14 days after signing up with a wagering service, and for three months after deregistering from the self-exclusion register BetStop. The Australian Communications and Media Authority will monitor compliance and conduct a statutory review after three years. Liberal backbencher Andrew Wallace argued the reforms do not go far enough, calling for longer advertising blackout periods and an opt-in approach for inducements.

The Guardian

Independent senator David Pocock labelled the deal a “betrayal of all Australians” and pledged to vote against the bills in the Senate. Greens leader Zali Steggall complained that cross-bench MPs were given only minutes to consider the amendments. Kate Seselja, co-chair of the Gambling Harm Lived Experience Experts, said the opt-out register is “completely unworkable” and advocated a full ban on gambling ads. Kai Cantwell, CEO of Responsible Wagering Australia, warned that restricting promotions could push bettors toward unregulated offshore markets.

The Guardian

• “We have listened to the range of views across the community and the Parliament, which showed us the most toxic version of inducements – and we are taking action to address this,” — Anika Wells

The Guardian

• “If you push people away from the licensed, regulated market - by banning or limiting the promotions that let local operators compete, or by making Australian odds less competitive with new taxes and levies - you don’t stop them punting,” — Kai Cantwell

The Guardian

• “The only way to effectively block gambling ads is to ban them in Australia. This proposal is completely unworkable,” — Kate Seselja, co-chair of the Gambling Harm Lived Experience Experts

The Guardian