Australia delays gambling ad reforms, planned restrictions pushed to 2025

The Australian Labor government has delayed its planned gambling advertising reforms, initially slated to be announced in 2024, postponing the contentious measures until 2025. The decision has drawn criticism from reform advocates, who have raised concerns about the government’s ability to address the perceived societal harm caused by gambling advertisements.  

According to reports from Sky News Australia and The Guardian, the delay is attributed to conflicting priorities within the government and insufficient parliamentary support. The reforms, based on the June 2023 Murphy Report, which outlined 31 recommendations for reforming the gambling sector in Australia, were expected to introduce stricter regulations on gambling advertising. 

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland had pledged their announcement by the end of 2024, but the timeline has now seemingly shifted. Sports Minister Anika Wells stated that resistance from sporting organizations necessitated further deliberation.

“I’ve got concerns about how [gambling] is impacting sports integrity and how this is impacting our athletes who are being targeted by people because of this,” Wells told The Guardian. “On the flip side, I have national sporting organizations, professional codes worried about how this will impact the viability of their financial models”  

Meanwhile, Assistant Minister for Treasury Andrew Leigh highlighted a lack of Senate support as a key obstacle. He told Sky News Australia: “The numbers aren’t there to progress the reforms...which would significantly curtail gambling ads around major sporting events.”  

The mixed messaging has sparked criticism from anti-gambling advocates and independent lawmakers. MP Andrew Wilkie accused the government of bowing to industry pressure, describing the delay as a sign that it is “scared stiff” of gambling companies and broadcasters. 

Senator David Pocock and Reverend Tim Costello of the Alliance for Gambling Reform also condemned the delay, with Costello warning that the continued presence of gambling advertisements is exacerbating addiction and harming families.  

The Murphy Report, authored by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy, outlined 31 recommendations to address the normalization of gambling in Australian society. Among these was a phased three-year plan to eliminate all forms of gambling advertising, a proposal that has faced resistance from media networks and sports organizations reliant on gambling revenue.  

Sources from Sky News Australia revealed that the government’s revised approach may include banning gambling ads one hour before and after live sports events, capping ads at two per hour during other programming, and imposing a blackout during children’s shows. The gambling industry has advocated for a softer approach, proposing shorter blackout periods around live sports and a cap of three ads per hour at other times.  

Despite the delay, Communications Minister Rowland reiterated the government’s intent to find a balanced solution. “We understand the concerns of both the public and the industries involved. Our goal is to craft legislation that reduces harm while balancing economic realities,” she said.  

Analysts suggest the delay could become a political liability for the Labor government. Professor Mark Kenny of the Australian National University noted: “This is a test of the government’s ability to reconcile its progressive promises with practical governance. Failure to deliver meaningful reform could alienate a significant portion of its voter base.”  

The Albanese administration now faces mounting pressure to reconcile industry demands with public calls for stricter gambling advertising rules.