The Albanese Government announced a package of gambling advertising restrictions on 2 April 2026, following the government's review of the 2023 Murphy Report into online gambling harm. The reforms target gambling advertising across broadcast television, radio, online platforms, sports venues and player uniforms, with legislation to be developed and measures commencing from 1 January 2027. The government will table its full response to the Murphy Report when parliament sits in May 2026.

Under the new measures, gambling advertising on broadcast television will be capped at three ads per hour between 6am and 8:30pm, with a complete ban during live sport broadcasts within those hours. Gambling ads on radio will be banned during school drop-off and pick-up times (8am to 9am and 3pm to 4pm). Online gambling advertising will be restricted to users who are logged in, verified as over 18, and have the option to opt out. The use of celebrities and sports players in gambling advertising will be banned, along with odds-style ads targeting sports fans and content that cross-promotes commentary with betting odds. Gambling branding on player jerseys and in stadiums will also be prohibited.

Beyond advertising, the government will ban online keno products known as "pocket pokies", introduce consistent match-fixing criminal offences across all states and territories, boost enforcement against illegal offshore gambling providers, strengthen the BetStop National Self-Exclusion Register, and expand financial counselling support for gambling harm.

Australia has the highest per-capita gambling losses in the world, with Australians losing approximately A$34.8 billion in the most recent full year of data. Total gambling turnover reached A$244.3 billion in 2022-23. Australia is home to approximately 3% of the world's poker machines despite having just 0.3% of the global population. Polling by the Australia Institute found 76% of Australians support a complete ban on gambling advertising, with 81% supporting a ban on social media and online platforms and 79% supporting a ban in stadiums and on player uniforms.

The reforms follow the June 2023 report of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs, chaired by Labor MP Peta Murphy. The inquiry, which commenced in September 2022, received 161 submissions and conducted thirteen public hearings before delivering 31 unanimously supported recommendations, including a phased, comprehensive ban on all online gambling advertising within three years. Murphy passed away in December 2023. Prior to this announcement, the government had already implemented several gambling harm reduction measures, including the launch of BetStop in August 2023 and a ban on credit cards for online wagering, with six-month transition provisions and fines of up to $234,750 for non-compliant operators.

Summary:

• Gambling ads on broadcast TV capped at 3 per hour (6am–8:30pm), with a complete ban during live sport within those hours

• Gambling ads banned on radio during school drop-off and pick-up (8am–9am, 3pm–4pm)

• Online gambling ads restricted to verified 18+ logged-in users with mandatory opt-out

• Celebrities and athletes banned from appearing in gambling advertising

• Gambling branding banned on player uniforms and in stadiums

• Ban on cross-promotion content mixing commentary with betting odds

• Ban on online keno "pocket pokies" and crackdown on illegal offshore operators

• Consistent match-fixing criminal offences across all states and territories

• Reforms to commence 1 January 2027

• Full government response to the Murphy Report to be tabled in May 2026

Sources:

[1] https://www.pm.gov.au/media/strong-action-tackle-gambling-harms

[2] Murphy, P. (2023). You Win Some, You Lose More. House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs.

[3] Queensland Government Statistician's Office (2024). Australian Gambling Statistics, 39th Edition.

(Rip my goat though)