Australia is introducing a series of measures aimed at reducing gambling advertising, including banning promotions by celebrities and sports stars, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday.
Albanese described these changes as the “most significant reform ever implemented in terms of gambling” in the country, where gambling is the biggest in the world and per capita betting losses are the highest.
“The government is taking decisive action to address the public health and community issues related to gambling,” he said.
The government will implement new rules starting in 2027, focusing on reducing children’s exposure to gambling influences, especially by ending the “advertising deluge” they are faced with, Albanese said.
Gambling ads on television channels will be limited to three per hour between 6 am and 8:30 pm, with a total ban during live sports broadcasts at these times.
Ads will be banned on radio during school drop-off and pick-up times, while online ads will be restricted to users over 18 who are logged in and can choose not to view them.
The use of celebrities and sports stars in gambling promotions will also be banned, and gambling branding will be prohibited on sports sites and players’ uniforms.
The ban is likely to impact online gambling companies such as Flutter Entertainment PLC – owner of the popular betting app Sportsbet in Australia – and Entain PLC, owner of the third-ranked Ladbrokes app.
Shares of the second-largest gaming company Tabcorp Holdings were down 2.4% in afternoon trading, exceeding the 0.8% decline in the benchmark ASX200 index.
