Australia Would Ban Gambling Ads After Cross-Party Vote, MP Says

Australian Labor MP Dr Mike Freelander argues that a ban on gambling advertising would pass if parliament were given a conscience vote, presenting the matter as a public health issue. His view is shared by Liberal MP Simon Kennedy and independent MP Kate Chaney, co-chairs of the newly revived Parliamentary Friends of Gambling Harm Minimization group.

Australian Politicians Push for Gambling Reforms

Mr Kennedy and Ms Chaney have criticized Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for what they see as the federal government’s slow response to the recommendations from the 2023 inquiry into online gambling. However, Dr Freelander said he was not seeking to criticise the prime minister. The Labor MP, who has decades of medical experience as a paediatrician in Western Sydney, characterised gambling advertising as a “public health issue.”

Dr Freelander noted that he had witnessed its impact on families and on the children he had cared for, and felt that action was needed to reduce the harm. He stressed that he was not a “wowser” advocating for a complete ban on gambling.

Freelander further argued that gambling causes significant harm and that marketing and advertising are often targeted at those who are most vulnerable. He compared the situation to the campaigns of the 1960s and 1970s against tobacco products and advertising, expressing confidence that similar progress would eventually be made on gambling.

Mr Kennedy said there was a “unity ticket in this parliament to address gambling harm” and accused Mr Albanese of delaying progress. He argued that Australians “have a right to expect more urgency” on the issue. Mr Kennedy also explained that he chose to co-chair the parliamentary group because he had spent time with families who had lost loved ones to gambling-related harm, including reading the suicide notes left behind.

Ms Chaney said there was “broad support” across the political spectrum for reforms. She noted that members of the crossbench were speaking up on behalf of their communities on the issue. However, she argued that with the prime minister preventing progress, joining the Parliamentary Friends of Gambling Harm Minimisation might be the only avenue for Labor MPs to demonstrate their communities’ backing for meaningful reform.

Group to Host Reform Advocates This Week

The group is scheduled to host reform advocates in Canberra on Wednesday for a presentation of new research supporting the establishment of a national regulator for the gambling sector. According to Alliance for Gambling Reform chief executive Martin Thomas, the current system has enabled the Northern Territory to function as a “regulatory haven” for foreign-owned bookmakers, offering “low tax, light oversight and quick approvals.” He said the use of a single NT licence allows overseas companies to operate nationwide, effectively sidestepping the stronger regulatory frameworks in other states.

Research compiled for the alliance shows that roughly 1% of online gamblers account for more than 40% of total losses. These high-loss gamblers are mostly employed men aged 25 to 44,  many of whom have children and mortgages, as well as individuals experiencing financial strain or mental health challenges.