This bill did not become law and is no longer proceeding.
Transport & communications
Australia would ban ads for licensed online and phone betting services, cutting these promotions from major media and public-facing channels.
Nearly 948 gambling ads a day on free-to-air TV in Victoria, and evidence linking those ads to more betting and impulse betting by young people, exposed a harm gap. The bill responds by banning ads for licensed online and phone betting across TV, radio, print and online, with limited exceptions.
By 2023, online betting ads had become a routine part of Australian sport and media, with the bill’s explanatory material citing an average 948 gambling ads a day on free-to-air televisionRegular TV channels that viewers can watch without a subscription, and where the bill says gambling ads were especially common. in Victoria and AIFSA research body cited on the page for evidence that gambling ads are linked to more betting and impulse betting. evidence that such advertising increased betting and impulse betting among young people. As political support for tighter limits grew, the bill was introduced in June 2023 to impose a broad ad ban across broadcast, print and online media, but later inquiry-driven debate and government reluctance meant it did not pass and was removed from the Notice PaperThe parliamentary list of business scheduled for debate; if a bill is removed from it, the bill has effectively stopped progressing. in February 2024.
The main case against the bill was that a blanket ban on betting ads could take significant revenue out of free-to-air broadcasters and sports bodies that depend on wagering sponsorships and advertising. That criticism appears to have come mainly from media executives, wagering firms and ministers weighing industry impacts, while no party represented in the debate opposed the bill.
Rebekha Sharkie MP introduced this bill. Speeches supporting it came from Centre Alliance, some crossbench members.
Did it become law?
No
The bill did not complete passage through Parliament.
Final passage
No final passage
The bill has not completed passage and is no longer proceeding.
Time before failure
239 days
From introduction to the final recorded step before the bill stopped proceeding
Meaning
Australia would ban ads for licensed online and phone betting services, cutting these promotions from major media and public-facing channels.
Television, radio, print and online outlets would no longer be allowed to run ads for interactive gambling services such as online and telephone betting.
Some material would still be allowed, including job ads, trade ads and messages aimed at reducing gambling harm.
The ban would not cover some other gambling products, including certain betting services and lottery services that the bill leaves out.
Broadcasters that run banned betting ads could face licence breaches and related penalties under Australia's broadcasting law.
The Interactive Gambling Amendment (Ban on Gambling Advertisements) Bill 2023 amends the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 to ban advertising of a licensed interactive wagering service that is a gambling service.Interactive Gambling Amendment (Ban on Gambling Advertisements) explanatory memorandum
This will prohibit television, print, radio and online advertising of interactive gambling services such as telephone and online gambling.Interactive Gambling Amendment (Ban on Gambling Advertisements) explanatory memorandum
Exemptions are provided for certain types of advertising including gambling service related employment and trade advertisements, and advertisements to reduce gambling harm.Interactive Gambling Amendment (Ban on Gambling Advertisements) explanatory memorandum
The proposed advertising ban does not apply to, for example, excluded wagering and excluded lottery services.Interactive Gambling Amendment (Ban on Gambling Advertisements) explanatory memorandum
New section 61FEZ sets out additional conditions for licences and licencees under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 such that each commercial television broadcasting licence, commercial radio broadcasting licence, community broadcasting licence, subscription television broadcasting licence, class licence for a broadcasting service and datacasting licence is subject to the condition that the licensee will not broadcast or datacast a licensed interactive wagering service advertisement in contravention of this Part. Contravention of this section could give rise to a breach of licence conditions under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 and associated penalties.Interactive Gambling Amendment (Ban on Gambling Advertisements) explanatory memorandum
Context
By 2023, online betting ads had become a routine part of Australian sport and media, with the bill’s explanatory material citing an average 948 gambling ads a day on free-to-air televisionRegular TV channels that viewers can watch without a subscription, and where the bill says gambling ads were especially common. in Victoria and AIFSA research body cited on the page for evidence that gambling ads are linked to more betting and impulse betting. evidence that such advertising increased betting and impulse betting among young people. As political support for tighter limits grew, the bill was introduced in June 2023 to impose a broad ad ban across broadcast, print and online media, but later inquiry-driven debate and government reluctance meant it did not pass and was removed from the Notice PaperThe parliamentary list of business scheduled for debate; if a bill is removed from it, the bill has effectively stopped progressing. in February 2024.
Research links the volume of gambling ads to betting harm
The bill’s explanatory memorandumThe note that accompanies the bill and explains what it is meant to do and how each clause works. cited Victorian data showing 948 gambling ads a day on free-to-air TV and AIFSA research body cited on the page for evidence that gambling ads are linked to more betting and impulse betting. findings that ads were linked to more betting and impulse betting among young people.
Interactive Gambling Amendment (Ban on Gambling Advertisements) explanatory memorandum ↗Opposition proposes a ban on gambling ads around live sport
Peter Dutton proposed banning betting advertising for an hour before and after sporting matches, pushing gambling ads higher up the federal political agenda.
Australian Financial Review ↗Poll shows strong public support for a sports betting ad ban
An AFR/Freshwater poll found 70 per cent support for banning betting ads around televised sport, showing the proposal had broad backing with voters.
Australian Financial Review ↗Ban on online and phone betting ads bill is introduced
Rebekha Sharkie introduced the bill to ban advertising for licensed interactive wagering services across television, radio, print and online media, with limited exceptions.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Parliamentary inquiry recommends a blanket ban on gambling ads
Reporting on the inquiry’s recommendations said it called for a blanket ban on television gambling ads, sponsorship and promotion, intensifying pressure for stronger action than existing settings.
Australian Financial Review ↗Government signals it will not back an outright ban
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland indicated the Albanese government was moving away from a total gambling advertising ban, citing the sector’s commercial ties to major sports and broadcasters.
Australian Financial Review ↗Bill is removed from the Notice PaperThe parliamentary list of business scheduled for debate; if a bill is removed from it, the bill has effectively stopped progressing.
The bill was removed from the Notice PaperThe parliamentary list of business scheduled for debate; if a bill is removed from it, the bill has effectively stopped progressing. under standing ordersThe parliament's procedural rules, which can be used to remove a stalled bill from the Notice Paper., marking the end of its progress without the proposed advertising ban becoming law.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Legislative route
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Key criticism
The main case against the bill was that a blanket ban on betting ads could take significant revenue out of free-to-air broadcasters and sports bodies that depend on wagering sponsorships and advertising. That criticism appears to have come mainly from media executives, wagering firms and ministers weighing industry impacts, while no party represented in the debate opposed the bill.
Criticism was mostly about economic fallout, not a defence of gambling advertising itself.
Revenue hit to broadcasters and sport
Critics argued a full ban on gambling ads would remove a major source of income from television networks and sports codes, potentially leaving broadcasters with large revenue losses and putting pressure on leagues that rely heavily on wagering-related money.
Broader media market disruption
Industry reporting said betting firms were already pulling back advertising ahead of tougher rules, creating a sizeable hole in the advertising market and prompting broadcasters to seek fee relief. The concern was mainly about implementation costs and market disruption rather than the bill’s harm-reduction goal.
Votes
No recorded votes were found before this bill stopped proceeding.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
Sharkie strongly supports the bill and wants Parliament to ban gambling advertising because she sees gambling harm as a serious public health emergency, especially for young people.
Read in Hansard ↗Wilkie strongly supports the bill and says gambling advertisements should be banned because they are normalising betting, harming children, and worsening addiction and other social damage.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
2 speakers · 2 support
“I commend this bill to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I commend the member for Mayo for this bill, as well as the member for Goldstein, who introduced a similar bill last month, and I'm delighted to second it. At the same time, I ask the government: what further information do you need? We know what the problem is. We know the harm it causes. We know Australians are sick to death of gambling advertising and want it banned, so, for God's sake, let's just do it. Let's get behind this bill, which would do just this.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
House · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
House · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
House · Removed from the Notice Paper in accordance with (SO 42)
Removed from the Notice PaperThe parliamentary list of business scheduled for debate; if a bill is removed from it, the bill has effectively stopped progressing. in accordance with (SO 42)
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
