Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended his government’s partial ban on gambling advertisements, pushing back against calls for a complete ban during question time in Parliament. He responded after the opposition highlighted recent polls indicating most Australians supported a full ban to come into effect as soon as possible.

The Government Is Hesitant to Go All-Out

Labor’s current plan proposes banning gambling ads online, during children’s programs, and during or around the broadcast of live sports. These restrictions also envision a limit of two ads per hour in general TV programming. However, these measures fall noticeably short of a complete gambling ad ban, and rising criticism prompted Albanese to explain this decision.

The Australian PM said he believed many of those arguing against gambling advertisements had the ultimate goal of ending gambling itself, which, he added, would be an infringement on personal freedoms. He highlighted how adults should have the right to make their own decisions while efforts should focus on keeping children away from gambling influences and protecting sports integrity.

The connection as well between sport and gambling needs to be broken. We need to make sure that adults can be adults, but children can be children.

Anthony Albanese

However, Albanese’s stance has attracted significant criticism from prominent advocates like Tim Costello, chief advocate for the Alliance for Gambling Reform. Costello rebuffed the Prime Minister’s remarks, stating that he had never pushed for prohibition but rather for enhanced regulatory measures. Costello accused Albanese of echoing industry arguments to justify the partial ban and labeled the government’s approach disappointing.

Australia Remains Plagued by Problem Gambling

Other advocates have joined Costello in campaigning for a complete ban on advertising, following the recommendations of a parliamentary inquiry chaired by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy. The inquiry recommended that gambling ads be phased out over a three-year timeline due to Australia’s escalating problem with gambling addiction.

A recent report named A Better Bet: How Australia Should Prevent Gambling Harm has highlighted the gambling crisis facing the country, with Australians losing an average of AUD1,635 ($1,100) each year on gambling- roughly twice more compared to countries like the United States and New Zealand. Pokies (slot machines) and online betting were responsible for most of these losses, disproportionately affecting lower-income communities.

As the debate continues, Costello warns that behind-the-scenes negotiations may result in a compromise that dilutes the inquiry’s recommendations, potentially stalling efforts to tackle problem gambling in the country. The government’s following actions will likely determine the course of Australia’s gambling reforms and set a tone for future policies.