The Australian Government has introduced its Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026 to Parliament, which it says contains the strongest ever reforms to address gambling harms in Australia’s history.
The Bill will, however, face further scrutiny before progressing further, with an eight-week Senate inquiry now planned amid pressure from critics to impose even greater restrictions including a complete ban on gambling advertising and a crackdown on inducements.
Despite this, the government insists the Bill breaks the connection between gambling and sport, minimizing children’s exposure to wagering advertising and stopping the saturation of wagering ads on radio, TV and online.
Key reforms include restricting gambling advertising on TV to no more than three ads each hour between 6am and 8.30pm, with a complete ban during live sport broadcasts within those hours; banning gambling ads through online platforms unless people have a logged in account, are over 18 and have the option to opt out of gambling advertising; and banning gambling ads on the radio during school drop-off and pick-up times.
The reforms also ban the use of athletes, celebrities or influencers to promote wagering; ban the broadcasting of ads promoting sporting odds; ban gambling ads in sports venues and on players’ and officials’ uniforms; and crack down on illegal gambling operators by allowing banks and payment systems to block transactions while giving the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) more powers to act faster to block these websites.
As part of the reforms, online keno “pocket pokies” and foreign matched lotteries will be banned.
The Bill will also better define and regulate trade promotions services to protect Australians from “dodgy” operators, as well as protecting small businesses like newsagencies and genuine lotteries and charities that give back to the community.
Other reforms include strengthening national self-exclusion register BetStop and providing more funding for gambling counselling alongside a new public awareness campaign.
“Australians love their sport, and they should be able to sit down and enjoy it with their families without being bombarded by gambling advertising and betting odds,” said Minister for Communications, Anika Wells.
“These reforms break the connection between sport and wagering, minimizing kids’ exposure to gambling ads and reducing their saturation on TV, radio and online.
“We are also acting to protect people, businesses, genuine lotteries and charities from new and emerging threats through these substantial changes.
“We have consulted widely to ensure we get the balance right to deliver these meaningful and significant changes to reduce gambling harm.”
Minister for Social Service, Tanya Plibersek, added, “Gambling harm touches too many Australian lives and we know its impact does not stop with the person who is gambling.
“For every person experiencing gambling harm, around six others – family, friends, workmates and loved ones – can feel the effects through financial pressure, stress and strained relationships.
“These reforms are about reducing that harm and making sure children grow up loving sport for the game – not seeing gambling as an essential part of it.”
The Australian government first unveiled its planned gambling advertising reforms in April – its response to the findings of a 2023 parliamentary inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on those experiencing gambling harm.
Critics of the reforms argue they don’t go far enough because the inquiry’s finding included recommending a complete ban on all forms of advertising for online gambling, to be phased in over three years, and the establishment of a national gambling regulator to oversee all licensing and regulation nationwide.
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