Lawmakers Consider Allowing Australians to Opt Out of Gambling Ads

Australia’s Labor government has vowed to introduce a new single-service opt-out register for gambling ads. This announcement comes amid continued calls to rein in the gambling sector and minimize the harm it causes.

Australia Considers Opt-Out Register for Gambling Ads

As Australia eyes changes to its gambling regulations, the Labor government promised to introduce a register that allows members of the public to opt out of receiving gambling ads. This register will be funded via a new levy that gambling operators will have to pay.

This proposal comes amid concerns about Australia’s problem gambling rates and the harms that ads could cause to vulnerable individuals. In addition to that, the Labor government also introduced a variety of other changes, such as new restrictions on inducements. For reference, many have highlighted inducements as one of the biggest contributors to excessive gambling.

While the opt-out register would allow people to shield themselves from gambling ads, critics were displeased with the proposal, scrutinizing its softer approach.

Lawmakers Are Discussing Gaming Reforms

Coalition and Greens members, as well as independent David Pocock, have so far been displeased with the government’s proposals. As calls for a complete ban on ads grow louder, critics of the current proposals have slammed the Albanese government for beating around the bush with measures that fail to deliver such a ban.

The mulled reforms are outlined in two bills that, according to experts, could pass by the end of this week, should PM Antony Albanese reach an agreement with opposition leader Angus Taylor.

At the same time, communications minister Anika Wells submitted another bill, outlining restrictions on gambling inducements and inducement-based marketing, as well as the aforementioned opt-out register. She emphasized that the data suggesting a correlation between inducements and harmful gambling has been disconcerting and therefore necessitates action.

Per Wells’ proposal, the so-called Wagering Advertising Opt-out Register will be an ACMA-operated register that will allow players to choose not to see gambling ads online.

A similar measure had been proposed in 2023, although it was ultimately criticized since opt-out systems tend to be hard to find and would often be ignored by users. While a centralized register is bound to be more visible, the efficiency of such a measure has yet to be tested, as many critics remain skeptical.