Australian Lawmakers Want Betting Apps to Show Real-Time Gambling Losses

Australian politicians are pushing for a new law that would make online gambling more open. They want betting apps and websites to show users how much money they are losing as they gamble. 

New Bill Aims to Make Gambling Losses Visible to Help At-Risk Players

Independent MP Rebekha Sharkie came up with this idea. She hopes it will help people who struggle with gambling to see how much they are losing and cut back on harmful betting habits.

The Interactive Gambling Amendment (Know Your Losses Activity Statement) Bill 2025 went to Parliament on February 10. This bill, if it becomes law, would force gambling sites to show three main numbers all the time: how much money the player has lost this month, the total losses for the year, and how much the player lost since they joined the site. These numbers would appear in a clear way, with letters at least 10 points big, so that players can always see them when they are betting, reported the Australian Associated Press.

People who back the bill say that many gamblers do not know how much they are losing, since they often think they have spent less than they have. Right now betting companies have to give out monthly activity reports, but users need to go and look at these themselves, which means it is easy for people to miss how much they are losing.

MPs Warn of Gambling Crisis as Young Australians Lose Big

Sharkie stressed that this step would not need much government action but could help stop financial troubles and mental health problems caused by gambling. She pointed out that young Australians, were losing big chunks of money without getting how it would hit their wallets.

Martin Thomas, from the Alliance for Gambling Reform, called the situation a growing crisis. He pointed to stats that show gambling problems lead to many suicides. He blamed poor consumer safeguards and aggressive marketing by betting firms as key reasons for the issue.

Independent MP Andrew Wilkie also raised alarms about how gambling companies use targeted ads to push betting. He said these firms tap into social media algorithms and customer data to tailor ads often luring at-risk people to bet more money. This approach, he claimed, shows companies’ clear aim to boost profits at the cost of users battling gambling addiction.

Proposed Law Renews Debate Over Gambling Ads and Government Inaction

The bill puts more heat on Communications Minister Michelle Rowland. People have slammed her for not doing much to change gambling rules. Earlier, politicians thought about stopping gambling ads during kids’ shows and sports, and limiting other TV ads to two an hour. However, they dropped this idea.

This bill comes after what the 2022 Murphy Report said. It wanted big changes in gambling even noting that all betting ads should be banned over time. While some people keep pushing for tougher rules, the Albanese Government hints that any big changes will wait until after the elections.

If passed, the Know Your Losses bill would bring in tough punishments for those who do not follow the rules. Fines could go up to 500 penalty units each day for criminal acts and 750 penalty units for civil violations multiplied by five for companies. Gambling businesses would get a six-month grace period to make the needed changes to their systems.