Gambling advertising could be banned in three years, report recommends

The wagering industry has criticised the parliamentary report for cutting off ‘crucial support to sporting codes and local broadcasters’.

Gambling advertising could be phased out within three years under a four step model outlined in a parliamentary report. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Geraghty

Gambling advertising could be phased out within three years under a four step model outlined in a parliamentary report, which has been criticised by the wagering industry for cutting off “crucial support to sporting codes and local broadcasters”.

The report, which was tabled on Wednesday following a parliamentary inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on problem gamblers, proposes that all betting ads should be banned from social media, news broadcasts and commercial radio during school pick up and drop off, in the first step of the phase-out.

The second phase will see ads and commentary on betting odds banned during sports broadcasts, including gambling logos on players uniforms, before a broadcast blackout from 6am to 10pm is introduced. The final step will see a total ban enforced.

Labor MP and standing committee on social policy and legal affairs chair Peta Murphy said gambling advertising was “grooming children and young people to gamble and encourages riskier behaviour”.

“Online gambling companies advertise so much in Australia because it works,” Ms Murphy said in the report.

“Online gambling has been deliberately and strategically marketed alongside sport, which has normalised it as a fun, harmless, and sociable activity that is part of a favourite pastime.

“Gambling advertising is grooming children and young people to gamble and encourages riskier behaviour. The torrent of advertising is inescapable. It is manipulating an impressionable and vulnerable audience to gamble online.”

Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said the government would “consider all recommendations of the inquiry and work closely with states and territories on what comes next”.

Responsible Wagering Australia chief executive Kai Cantwell said, while the community expected to see less gambling advertising, a total ban would deprive sporting leagues and local broadcasters of vital funds.

“Other more measured options which could be considered by the government include capping the numbers of gambling ads to be shown,” Mr Cantwell said.

“By doing this, the expectations of the community to see less advertising would be met, while also maintaining the crucial support to sporting codes and local broadcasters.”

Wagering giant Sportsbet chief executive Barni Evans said that “an approach that significantly reduces the number of ads rather than complete bans would respond to community concerns”.

However, Tabcorp Chief executive officer Adam Rytenskild said the proposed changes were within reason and the “proliferation of gambling advertising has gone too far”.

“Families do not want to be bombarded with gambling advertising when they are watching TV at home,” he said.

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland announced earlier this year the federal government’s plans to ban punters from using credit cards to gamble ­online to prevent people from falling into debt.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton called for betting ads to be banned during the broadcast of sports games during his budget reply speech, saying the “bombardment of betting ads” during sports games was “normalising gambling at a young age”.