The new reform bill called Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill 2026 to to reduce gambling harm and limit advertising was introduced by the Australian Government.
The proposed reform will impose stricter rules on gambling ads on television, radio and on the internets. For example, the maximum number of TV gambling advertisements will be three per hour between the hours of 6:00am-8:30pm on each day. In addition to this, gambling advertisements will not be permitted during live sports broadcasts and online casino ads will be visible only to people age of 18 years or older.
The proposed bill will also restrict athletes, celebrities and influencers from promoting casinos, will stops advertising at sporting venues and on team uniforms and prohibit advertising of betting odds.
In conjunction with the advertising reforms, the government will empower the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to block illegal gaming websites and allow banks and payment service providers to prevent the processing of transactions associated with illegal gaming.
The Government has also introduced an independent bill to provide a mechanism for a cost-recovery levy to be levied on gambling operators to fund enhancements to the national self-exclusion register BetStop.
While the Government refers to its package of reforms as the most comprehensive package of gambling reform ever in Australia, there are some members of Parliament still calling for greater restrictions, including more expansive advertising bans and tougher controls for online gambling advertisements.
