The Australian government is pressing ahead with plans to introduce a cap on gambling advertising during general television programming despite significant pressure from its ranks as well as from the Greens to introduce an outright ban. There has been an increasingly heated debate about gambling ads, with public health advocates joining politicians and community groups as they warn about the impact those ads could have on vulnerable groups like children.
Several Sectors Fear Reduced Revenues
The ongoing debate regarding the future of gambling ads in Australia has become increasingly polarizing. The government’s current proposal seeks to ban gambling ads online, during children’s programming, and during live sports broadcasts, including an hour before and after the event. However, periods of general programming will allow for two ads every hour.
“We’re taking a comprehensive approach, recognizing that this is a complex issue.”
Anthony Albanese
These measures fall short of the recommendations from a June 2023 bipartisan committee inquiry that urged a blanket ban on gambling ads. However, major sports leagues, media companies, and some gambling firms engaged in heavy lobbying against this proposal. These stakeholders argued against an outright ban, fearing it would significantly impact their revenues.
FreeTV Australia, the industry body representing commercial broadcasters, noted that the sector would require a reduction of regulatory burdens to compensate for reduced revenues. Meanwhile, leading Australian operator Tabcorp stated it would support limited ad restrictions but was very concerned regarding the impact an absolute ban would have on its bottom line.
Support for Stricter Measures Remains Strong
The push for a total ban on gambling ads remains strong, with the Greens leading the charge in the Senate. The party noted it would attempt to amend a regional broadcasting bill to include a provision for a total ban on gambling ads. Labor’s backbench has also shown signs of dissent, with MPs like Mike Freelander and Jodie Belyea pushing for a complete ban.
The Australian Medical Association also expressed its support for stricter measures. Its president, Prof. Steve Robson, highlighted the links between gambling and mental health issues. He also drew attention to gambling’s broader societal impacts like employment issues and financial hardship. Robson noted that gambling represented a significant public health risk and advocated against half-measures.
Australia’s political situation further complicates this issue as the government needs bipartisan support to pass the bill in a potentially hostile Senate. Labor will have to convince MPs of the need to tread a fine line between responding to public concerns and the economic impact on broadcasters and sporting organizations if it hopes to achieve any progress.