Interactive Gambling Amendment (Ban on Gambling Advertisements)
Current status
This bill did not become law and is no longer proceeding.
Policy area
Transport & communications
What does this bill do?
Australia would ban ads for licensed online and phone betting services, cutting them from television, print, radio and the internet.
Why was it introduced?
Saturation gambling ads and evidence linking them to increased betting and harm, especially for young people, exposed a gap after the 2023 parliamentary inquiry called for a comprehensive ban and the government had not responded. The bill bans licensed online and phone betting ads across TV, radio, print and online, with penalties and limited exceptions.
Broader context
Australia already regulated interactive gambling under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001The existing law that already controls interactive gambling in Australia; this bill would add a new ban on advertising certain licensed wagering services., but it did not ban advertising, and betting promotions became far more visible as free-to-air gambling ads in Victoria rose sharply by 2021 while 2023 research linked advertising to increased betting and impulse betting among young people. After the parliamentary report You win some, you lose moreThe committee report that argued gambling advertising was harming Australians and called for a comprehensive ban. called for a comprehensive ban on 28 June 2023, this bill was introduced on 1 July 2024 to ban licensed online and telephone wagering ads across media, but it lapsed at the dissolution of ParliamentThe point when Parliament ends before an election; this bill lapsed then and did not become law. on 28 March 2025.
Key criticism
No significant public case against the bill is recorded so far, with the available debate material focused on reducing gambling harm rather than warning about likely negative effects of the ban. The speeches identified here were supportive, and no party represented in the debate material cited made a substantial criticism or reservation about the bill itself.
Who supported it?
Rebekha Sharkie MP introduced this bill.
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
270 days
From introduction to the final recorded step before the bill stopped proceeding
Meaning
What does this bill do?
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Australia would ban ads for licensed online and phone betting services, cutting them from television, print, radio and the internet.
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The bill treats many promotions as gambling ads, including brand names, web addresses and slogans closely linked to online betting services.
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Some material would still be allowed, including political messages, business documents, ads at betting companies' own premises, anti-gambling messages and other exceptions set by regulations.
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Publishers and online platforms could face civil penalties if they publish these betting ads in Australia or arrange for them to be published.
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Broadcasting licence holders could also breach their licence conditions if they run banned betting ads, exposing them to extra penalties under broadcasting law.
Show source excerpts
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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 -
New section 61FEA defines a licensed interactive wagering service advertisement as any writing, still or moving picture, sign, symbol or other visual image or audible message or combination of those things that publicises or promotes a licensed interactive wagering service or such services in general, the trademark, domain name or URL or any words closely associated with a licensed interactive wagering service.
Interactive Gambling Amendment (Ban on Gambling Advertisements) explanatory memorandum -
This definition is subject to exceptions set out in new sections 61FEB (political communication), 61FEC (websites and business documents), 61FED (premises of providers), 61FEE (management advertisements), 61FEF (products or services of the same name), 61FEG (anti-gambling advertisements) and 61FEH (advertisements of a kind specified in regulations). These exceptions recognise that gambling itself and the existence of gambling services is not illegal, only the advertising promotion of those services on television, radio, in print and online.
Interactive Gambling Amendment (Ban on Gambling Advertisements) explanatory memorandum -
must not publish a licensed interactive wagering service advertisement in Australia (civil penalty of 180 penalty units);
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
Broader context for this bill
Australia already regulated interactive gambling under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001The existing law that already controls interactive gambling in Australia; this bill would add a new ban on advertising certain licensed wagering services., but it did not ban advertising, and betting promotions became far more visible as free-to-air gambling ads in Victoria rose sharply by 2021 while 2023 research linked advertising to increased betting and impulse betting among young people. After the parliamentary report You win some, you lose moreThe committee report that argued gambling advertising was harming Australians and called for a comprehensive ban. called for a comprehensive ban on 28 June 2023, this bill was introduced on 1 July 2024 to ban licensed online and telephone wagering ads across media, but it lapsed at the dissolution of ParliamentThe point when Parliament ends before an election; this bill lapsed then and did not become law. on 28 March 2025.
- 2021
Gambling ads surge on free-to-air TV
Nielsen data cited in the explanatory memorandum said free-to-air television in Victoria carried an average of 948 gambling ads a day in 2021, up from 374 a day in 2016.
Interactive Gambling Amendment (Ban on Gambling Advertisements) explanatory memorandum ↗ - 2023
AIFSThe research body cited in the bill's explanation for evidence that gambling ads can increase betting harm, especially for young people. research links ads to gambling harm
The explanatory memorandum says Australian Institute of Family StudiesThe research body cited in the bill's explanation for evidence that gambling ads can increase betting harm, especially for young people. research found widespread gambling participation, high risk of harm from betting, and stronger impulse betting after advertising exposure among young people.
Interactive Gambling Amendment (Ban on Gambling Advertisements) explanatory memorandum ↗ - 28 June 2023
Committee calls for a comprehensive ad ban
The House social policy committeeThe House committee that examined online gambling harm and recommended a broad advertising ban.'s You win some, you lose moreThe committee report that argued gambling advertising was harming Australians and called for a comprehensive ban. report found online gambling advertising was harming Australians, especially children and young people, and recommended a comprehensive ban across all media phased in over three years.
Interactive Gambling Amendment (Ban on Gambling Advertisements) explanatory memorandum ↗ - 01 July 2024
Bill introduced to ban betting advertisements
The private member's billA bill introduced by a non-government MP rather than by the government itself. was introduced to amend the Interactive Gambling Act 2001The existing law that already controls interactive gambling in Australia; this bill would add a new ban on advertising certain licensed wagering services. by banning advertising for licensed interactive wagering services across television, radio, print and online, with penalties and limited exceptions.
Parliamentary timeline ↗ - 28 Mar 2025
Bill lapses at dissolution of ParliamentThe point when Parliament ends before an election; this bill lapsed then and did not become law.
The proposal did not become law because it lapsed when Parliament was dissolved, leaving the existing advertising rules in place.
Parliamentary timeline ↗
Legislative route
How did it move through Parliament?
Introduced 01 July 2024
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
Second reading opened 01 July 2024
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
Lapsed at dissolution 28 Mar 2025
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Key criticism
The main case against this bill
No significant public case against the bill is recorded so far, with the available debate material focused on reducing gambling harm rather than warning about likely negative effects of the ban. The speeches identified here were supportive, and no party represented in the debate material cited made a substantial criticism or reservation about the bill itself.
No significant public case against the bill is recorded so far.
Votes
Recorded votes
No recorded votes were found before this bill stopped proceeding.
Parliamentary debate
Who spoke, and what they said
No speeches were found for this bill.
Record
Full record
- Status
- Not Proceeding -- Collected from the APH bill page.
- Originating house
- House of Representatives
- 01 July 2024
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.
- 01 July 2024
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.
- 28 Mar 2025
House · Lapsed at dissolution
Lapsed at dissolution
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.