An alliance of more than 60 prominent Australians have called on the federal government and the opposition to commit to banning all gambling advertising within three years.
The letter sent to the government calls on both the prime minister Anthony Albanese, as well as the opposition leader Peter Dutton, to commit publicly to implementing the 31 recommendations put forward by Labor MP Peta Murphy, who chaired the Federal Inquiry into Online Gambling.
This includes banning inducements and promotions that are used to encourage people who want to stop gambling.
The group, called Alliance for Gambling Reform, includes former prime ministers and premiers, MPs, union leaders, sport, business, health, union and faith figures, academics, writers, social justice advocates and social service groups.
A proposed ban was first raised back in 2023, but industry body Free TV hit out earlier this year, saying that revenue from gambling advertising currently funds the production of trusted news, live and free sport and local entertainment and drama programming.
Last month, the government started a review into foreign betting being offered via advertising in Australia, looking at the regulation of online keno and foreign-matched lotteries as part of its work to minimise online gambling harm.
Alliance for Gambling Reform CEO, Martin Thomas said atotal ban on all gambling advertising is essential to stop gambling companies targeting children.
"Any decision to simply cap advertising, or limit a blanket ban to only social media, would be a win for vested interests and leave Australians exposed to significant harm," he said.
“Children are being saturated in advertising and people who want to stop gambling are being pulled back in through exploitative and unethical inducements and promotions."
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