The new federal Labor government has started a widespread crackdown on gambling advertising.
Australians lose about $25 billion on legal forms of gambling each year, according to The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
The tagline, Gamble Responsibly, is going from April next year.
Social services minister Amanda Rishworth told ABC NewsRadio: “ What we're doing is using evidence and research that clearly shows that the tagline of ‘Gamble Responsibly’ doesn't do the job of getting people to think and to minimise harm.
“So the new taglines, which were agreed with all state territories and the Commonwealth, are evidence-based and they actually have been shown to work.”
The new taglines:
- Chances are you're about to lose.
- Think. Is this really a bet you want to play?
- Imagine what you could be buying instead.
- You win some. You lose more.
- What are you prepared to lose? Set a deposit limit.
- What are you really gambling with?
- What's gambling really costing you?
Rishworth: “Behavioural research and a whole lot of work has gone into developing these taglines which are much more effective in getting particularly those with a problem with gambling to actually think twice before they place the bet."
The process is part of the National Consumer Protection Framework that all states and territories and the Commonwealth have signed up to.
A House of Representatives Standing Committee is also looking into how to minimise gambling harm.
“Part of its remit is advertising on TV but we need to take steps now,” the minister says.
“This has been well researched, well looked at and it works. And so this is one of the many steps including activity statements, which show people how much they have lost in the last month.
“An exclusion register will be coming in at the end of November. There are a number of steps and this is just the latest step we're taking to minimise gambling harm or fraud.”
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