By The Guardian (World News) | Created at 2024-09-24 15:20:15 | Updated at 2024-09-30 13:21:32
5 days ago
Opponents of a gambling ad ban are pushing the federal government to instead consider using age verification to block minors from sports betting content.
Earlier this month the government announced plans to ban young children from accessing social media using age verification technology.
Guardian Australia understands some gambling sources say similar technology, combined with frequency caps for online ads, could be used for betting content.
Anti-gambling advocates and the gambling industry are still waiting for the government to make a decision on a betting ad ban – potentially after the AFL and NRL finals – and they are frustrated with the delay.
The chief advocate of the Alliance for Gambling Reform, Tim Costello, said he was worried the Albanese government will “squib” what he called a once-in-a-lifetime chance to reform the sector.
“They continue to fail to explain why we’ve got the greatest gambling losses in the world, but keep fiddling at the edges to keep the sporting codes and media outlets onside,” he said.
It is nearly 15 months since Peta Murphy’s report recommending a ban on all advertising for online gambling. Anthony Albanese has all-but ruled out following Murphy’s calls for a blanket ban.
Labor has discussed a proposal to ban gambling ads online, in children’s programming, during live sports broadcasts and an hour either side, and with some limits in general TV programming. That proposal has been described as “manifestly inadequate” by harm reduction advocates.
A study by the Australian Gambling Research Centre found about a third of young adults who gambled in the last year started betting before the age of 18 and those who start young suffered more from gambling as an adult.
A spokesperson for the communications minister, Michelle Rowland, said the government “continues to engage with stakeholders” but declined to “comment on media reports or speculation”.
“The government is closely considering all 31 recommendations from the final report of the Online Gambling Inquiry and will release a comprehensive response in due course,” they said in a statement.
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The CEO of Responsible Wagering Australia, Kai Cantwell, an industry peak body representing companies such as bet365, Sportsbet and Pointsbet – has previously called for “sensible, evidence-based alternatives, such as opt-out provisions and age-verification requirements”.
“Responsible Wagering Australia is committed to reducing the exposure of children and vulnerable individuals to gambling advertising while still backing sports and broadcasters that rely on this funding,” he said on Tuesday.
“It’s crucial to strike a balance that prevents Australians from turning to illegal offshore providers, who provide no protections to customers and don’t pay taxes and fees that licensed providers are required to pay.”
Both sides of the debate say they are unclear on when the government will reveal its final proposal. Some are expecting news in early October when the federal parliament next meets. Numerous sources who spoke to the Guardian expressed frustration at the lack of certainty.
On Tuesday Albanese questioned whether a complete ad ban would “solve the problem”, telling ABC radio “we’re looking at a range of options.”
The prime minister said the government would seek to “tighten” rules around self-exclusion scheme BetStop, after the ABC reported problem gamblers were finding loopholes to keep betting despite registering for the program.
Rowland’s office said the government would soon commence a statutory review of BetStop to consider whether it was “fit for purpose.”
Costello said he had sought a meeting with Albanese after a public dispute in which he claimed the prime minister had “mindlessly” repeated wagering industry talking points. He claimed he hadn’t heard back from Albanese’s office.
The prime minister’s office was contacted for comment.
Costello called on Albanese to take a firm line.
“John Howard did gun reform, Kevin Rudd did smoking ads. Albo’s government set up the Murphy report, people want a ban, we don’t want kids groomed – but Albo’s going to squib it,” Costello said.
