Prime Minister Albanese Defends Government’s Stance on Gambling Ads Amid Calls for a Ban

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese fiercely defended his government’s stance on gambling regulation during a session in the House of Representatives after being accused of ignoring calls for an advertising ban. MP for Warringah, Zali Steggall, asked Albanese on 11 September whether he was disregarding demands for a complete ban on gambling advertising, to which the Prime Minister responded with a detailed defense of his government's approach.

Albanese pointed out that over 70% of harmful gambling behavior stems from poker machines, while lotteries account for around 15% of the problem. “I’m yet to see anyone stand up in this place and advocate banning, completely, all advertising of lottery and lotto tickets,” the Prime Minister remarked.

While acknowledging the pervasiveness of gambling advertising during sporting events, Albanese stated, “We know that it can be really annoying, apart from anything else, when you’re watching sport. And we know that we want to take an approach which is responsible but makes a difference as well.”

He emphasized that his government has taken significant steps against harmful gambling, more than any other Australian administration, and is consulting all stakeholders in its regulatory planning. This includes anti-gambling advocates, whom Albanese said, “want gambling stopped, full stop.”

“That’s a legitimate position for them to take,” Albanese said, “but it’s not one that I have, in terms of stopping all racing, for example, or stopping all gambling right across the board.” The Prime Minister explained that such a move would interfere with personal freedoms in a way he deemed inappropriate. “I do not believe that the state has an absolute right to determine the behavior of individuals across the board.”

Albanese’s remarks come amid growing speculation regarding what measures the government will ultimately adopt to regulate gambling advertising. Last week, Albanese denied reports suggesting the government is moving toward an immediate ban on online gambling ads, with rumors circulating that gambling commercials on TV could be restricted over the next two years. The Prime Minister maintained that no decisions had been made yet.

However, it seems unlikely that the government will pursue a complete ban on TV and radio advertising, despite this approach being recommended in the late MP Peta Murphy’s report on gambling advertising reform. Many campaigners have pushed for stricter regulations based on Murphy's findings, but anti-gambling groups, lawmakers, and even former prime ministers have criticized the government for not fully endorsing the report.

On the other side of the debate, operator association Responsible Wagering Australia (RWA) commissioned a survey indicating that most Australians support moderate restrictions on gambling ads, rather than a total ban. The poll, conducted by Freshwater Strategy, found that 56% of respondents prefer moderate controls on online gambling advertising, while only 37% support a blanket ban.

Regarding online gambling advertising, 37% of Australians prioritized reducing children’s exposure, consistent with findings from an earlier AFR Freshwater Poll. That report revealed that 70% of voters favor limiting gambling ads on TV and restricting the times they can be aired, rather than advocating for a full advertising ban.

RWA’s chief executive, Kai Cantwell, warned that an outright ban on online ads would ultimately benefit the black market. “International evidence shows that when you over-regulate legal markets, illegal operators will fill the void, targeting children and vulnerable people with predatory advertising,” Cantwell said in a press release issued on 9 September.

By fLEXI tEAM