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Ban Gambling Advertising
- Ari Casanova
- Sep 2, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Author: Ari Casanova and Grace Knight | Publish date: 02/9/2024
Problem Identification:
Gambling advertising is strongly linked to gambling-related harm.
According to the Australian Institute of Family Studies, ‘Among those at risk of gambling harm, half reported increasing their betting after seeing or hearing wagering ads.’
This can lead to financial, psychological, and relationship harm, affecting not only individuals who gamble but also their families and communities.
Context:
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) reported that there were 1 million free-to-air TV and radio ads for gambling in a 12-month period.
In 2018, ACMA brought in new rules restricting gambling advertising during live sport on both broadcasting and online platforms in an effort to reduce harm to children. Gambling ads can currently be broadcast between 8.30 pm and 5.00 am and also between 8.30 am and 4.00 pm during any program that is not principally directed to children. A 2018 study shows that this change does not significantly impact levels of gambling-related harm.
The Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs June 2023 report, titled You win some, you lose more, recommended a phased ban on online gambling advertisements, to be implemented fully within 3 years.
The Alliance for Gambling Reform, Victoria’s Gambling Regulator, and other key advocates have supported this call for a ‘total ban’ on gambling advertisements. This broadly reflects community sentiments, as a 2022 poll found that 7 in 10 Australians agree that gambling advertisements on television should be banned.
There are international precedents for banning gambling advertisements. Italy and Spain have imposed blanket bans on gambling advertising, while Belgium is undertaking a phased process to ban it.
Further, precedents exist in Australia where advertising of a harmful activity was banned in the interest of public health: the Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Act 1992 banned the advertising of tobacco, and the Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) Act 2023 expanded the ban to the advertising of e-cigarettes.
Solution Identification:
Introduce legislation to prohibit all forms of gambling advertisements through a phased approach over 3 years, as per the recommendations of the 2023 parliamentary inquiry.
Such legislation could reduce exposure to gambling advertisements, leading to a decrease in harms associated with gambling.
Advice:
The Minister for Communications should introduce legislation to prohibit gambling advertising in Australia over a 3-year period, in line with the recommendations of the parliamentary inquiry into online gambling, at the next opportunity.
Where to go to learn more:
The Alliance for Gambling Reform: https://www.agr.org.au/
Inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on those experiencing gambling harm: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House/Social_Policy_and_Legal_Affairs/Onlinegamblingimpacts
Human Perspective:
Mark’s Story: Mark’s experience speaks to the harm that can be exacerbated by persistent gambling advertisements. On AFL Grand Final Day in 2020, Mark lost a significant amount of money, bringing to light his 7-year battle with gambling addiction that had cost his family over $100,000. Despite attempting to quit, to self-exclude, Mark was continually bombarded with gambling advertisements and promotional material. Mark's submission to the inquiry calls for stricter regulations to reduce the impact of gambling advertisements and to better protect vulnerable people and those experiencing gambling-related harm.
To protect the anonymity of those involved, this is a fictionalised account drawn from an amalgamation of real-life stories, experiences, and testimonials gathered during the research process for this brief. Any resemblance to actual individuals is purely coincidental.
Conflict of interest/acknowledgment statement:
N/a.
Support
If your organisation would like to add your support to this paper, or suggest amendments, please email Info@foreaustralia.com.
Reference list:
ACMA. (2019). Gambling advertising in Australia: Consumer and advertising placement research, pages 10-11. https://www.acma.gov.au/publications/2019-11/report/gambling-advertising-research
Alliance for Gambling Reform. (2023, May 12). Dutton puts sports gambling advertising crisis in the national spotlight - Both parties must move toward a total ban to protect our kids [media release]. https://www.agr.org.au/agr-media-releases/dutton-puts-sports-gambling-advertising-crisis-in-the-national-spotlight---both-parties-must-move-toward-a-total-ban-to-protect-our-kids
Alliance For Gambling Reform. (n.d.). End gambling ads. https://www.agr.org.au/endgamblingads
Australian Gambling Research Centre. (2023). Exposure and impact of sports and race betting advertising in Australia. Australian Institute of Family Studies. https://aifs.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-03/2302_3_exposure-and-impacts.pdf
Australian Government. (2023) Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) Act 2023.
https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2023A00118/latest/text
Australian Government. (1992).Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Act 1992. https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2004A04509/latest/text
Australian Institute of Family Studies. (2023, March 27). Betting advertising linked to riskier gambling behaviour and greater harm, new research finds [media release].
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2023, September 7). Gambling in Australia. Australian Government. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-welfare/gambling
Belot, H. (2023, October 18). More than a million gambling ads aired on Australian TV and radio in a year, research finds, The Guardian.
Belot, H. (2024, January 12). Victoria’s gambling regulator calls for ad ban after being ‘bombarded’ by worried parents. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/jan/12/victoria-gambling-ad-ban-regulator-push-parents-children
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Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communication and the Arts. (n.d.). Question Time Responses. Australian Government. https://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/rowland/speech/question-time-response-online-gambling-ads
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Livingstone, C. (2023, May 19). Sport is being used to normalise gambling. We should treat the problem just like smoking. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/sport-is-being-used-to-normalise-gambling-we-should-treat-the-problem-just-like-smoking-205843
Parliament of Australia (n.d.) Inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on those experiencing gambling harm. https://www.aph.gov.au/onlinegambling
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Parke, E. (2020, December 11). Online-gambling addiction inquiry reveals disturbing stories. ABC News.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-12-11/online-gambling-addicts-speak-out/101735850
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Thomas, S.L., Bestman, A., Pitt, H. et al. (2018). Young people’s awareness of the timing and placement of gambling advertising on traditional and social media platforms: a study of 11–16-year-olds in Australia. Harm Reduct J 15, 51. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-018-0254-6
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