Sponsor speech Supports
Rebekha Sharkie
Sharkie supports the bill and wants gambling apps to show real-time loss and win information prominently on every screen, saying the current monthly emails are too easy to miss.
Read in Hansard ↗Interactive Gambling Amendment (Know Your Losses Activity Statement)
Current status
This bill did not become law and is no longer proceeding.
Policy area
Transport & communications
What does this bill do?
The new rules would start after a six-month transition period so online wagering providers can change their systems and prepare customers for the new display requirements.
Why was it introduced?
Since mid-2022, online betting companies have had to provide activity statements, but wins and losses are not shown during betting, leaving users to dig through account pages. This bill requires live net wins and losses to stay visible on betting apps and websites, with penalties if providers do not comply.
Broader context
Online wagering in Australia was already subject to the National Consumer Protection Framework, and since mid-2022 betting companies had to send monthly activity statements and keep transaction records available in account pages, but customers still could not see their running net wins and losses while placing bets. After online gambling surged, including a reported 67 per cent jump in the first week of April 2020, and national gambling losses reached $32 billion in 2022/23, the bill was introduced in February 2025 to force real-time on-screen loss and win displays, but it lapsed when Parliament was dissolved in March 2025.
Key criticism
No significant public case against the bill is recorded so far, and the main reservation visible in debate was that it is only a modest transparency measure rather than a broader gambling reform package. The available speeches supported the bill, with Andrew Wilkie arguing the larger problem was government inaction on wider gambling reforms, not this proposal itself.
Who supported it?
Rebekha Sharkie MP introduced this bill. Speeches supporting it came from Centre Alliance, some crossbench members.
Introduced in House 10 Feb 2025
Failed in House 28 Mar 2025
Did not reach Senate —
Did not become law —
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
46 days
From introduction to the final recorded step before the bill stopped proceeding
Meaning
What does this bill do?
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The new rules would start after a six-month transition period so online wagering providers can change their systems and prepare customers for the new display requirements.
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Online betting apps and websites would have to keep each user’s running wins and losses visible in real time while they are betting, instead of making people dig through account pages.
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Online wagering providers could be required by regulations to show extra details on screen, such as in a readable banner at the top of the app or website.
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Betting companies that do not show this live loss and win information could face criminal and civil penalties, with a separate breach for each day the failure continues.
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People would be able to complain to the Australian Communications and Media AuthorityThe regulator people can complain to if a wagering provider does not show the required loss and win information properly. if an online wagering provider does not keep this betting information prominently displayed.
Show source excerpts
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In order to provide for a smooth transition for operators and customers, a six-month implementation period is proposed to allow for the implementation of changes to systems and processes. This period will also allow for engagement to occur with operators, peak bodies and advocates for reducing gambling harm including in relation to the development of any regulations to specify the activity statement information that is to be displayed to all users at all times during wagering activity.
Interactive Gambling Amendment (Know Your Losses Activity Statement) explanatory memorandum -
Proposed new section 61RC provides that a licensed interactive wagering service provider must ensure that an individual has access to activity statement information that covers their use of the service up to that time on the app or website; that this activity statement information is updated in real time; that this activity statement information is prominently displayed in accordance with regulations made for this purpose; and the activity statement is displayed on the app or website at all times when the individual is using the service and is not able to be removed, minimised or covered by other content.
Interactive Gambling Amendment (Know Your Losses Activity Statement) explanatory memorandum -
Regulations can specify further details required to be displayed. A note to section 61RC provides as an example that the above activity statement information is prominently displayed when it is included in a banner at the top of the screen of the app or website in legible text of 10 point font size or more.
Interactive Gambling Amendment (Know Your Losses Activity Statement) explanatory memorandum -
The Bill creates a criminal offence and corresponding civil penalty provision if a person intentionally provides a licensed interactive wagering service to a customer in Australia without displaying their real time activity statement information as required. For each day a contravention continues, a separate offence is committed. There is an exception to the offence if the operator can demonstrate that they took reasonable precautions and exercised due diligence to avoid the contravention, the evidential burden of proving which exception is upon the defendant given they are likely in the best position to do so.
Interactive Gambling Amendment (Know Your Losses Activity Statement) explanatory memorandum -
Item 2 amends section 16 of the Act, to enable a person to make a complaint to ACMA if they believe another person has contravened the new requirement to ensure that customers have real time access to information about bets made, prominently displayed.
Interactive Gambling Amendment (Know Your Losses Activity Statement) explanatory memorandum
Context
Broader context for this bill
Online wagering in Australia was already subject to the National Consumer Protection Framework, and since mid-2022 betting companies had to send monthly activity statements and keep transaction records available in account pages, but customers still could not see their running net wins and losses while placing bets. After online gambling surged, including a reported 67 per cent jump in the first week of April 2020, and national gambling losses reached $32 billion in 2022/23, the bill was introduced in February 2025 to force real-time on-screen loss and win displays, but it lapsed when Parliament was dissolved in March 2025.
- first week of April 2020
Online gambling jumps sharply at the start of the pandemic
The explanatory material says online gambling in Australia rose by 67 per cent in the first week of April 2020, highlighting how quickly wagering had shifted onto phones and online platforms.
Interactive Gambling Amendment (Know Your Losses Activity Statement) explanatory memorandum ↗ - mid-2022
Monthly betting activity statements become mandatory
Licensed online wagering providers were required to give customers monthly statements and keep account transaction records available, but users still had to go looking for that information themselves.
Interactive Gambling Amendment (Know Your Losses Activity Statement) explanatory memorandum ↗ - 2022/23
Australian gambling losses reach $32 billion
The explanatory memorandum cites Queensland Treasury figures showing national gambling losses of $32 billion in 2022/23, underscoring the scale of gambling harm behind the push for stronger prompts during betting.
Interactive Gambling Amendment (Know Your Losses Activity Statement) explanatory memorandum ↗ - 10 Feb 2025
Bill introduced to put live wins and losses on betting screens
The bill was introduced to require online wagering apps and websites to show each customer's real-time net wins and losses prominently at all times, backed by offences, civil penalties and ACMAThe regulator people can complain to if a wagering provider does not show the required loss and win information properly. complaints powers.
Parliamentary timeline ↗ - 28 Mar 2025
Bill lapses when Parliament is dissolved
The proposal did not pass before the dissolution of Parliament, so the new real-time display rules and six-month transition period never took effect.
Parliamentary timeline ↗
Legislative route
How did it move through Parliament?
House Senate
Introduced 10 Feb 2025
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 10 Feb 2025
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, and the main reservation visible in debate was that it is only a modest transparency measure rather than a broader gambling reform package. The available speeches supported the bill, with Andrew Wilkie arguing the larger problem was government inaction on wider gambling reforms, not this proposal itself.
No party represented in the debate opposed the bill on the available evidence.
Votes
Recorded votes
No recorded votes were found before this bill stopped proceeding.
Parliamentary debate
Who spoke, and what they said
Start here — lead voices
Lead non-major voice Supports
Andrew Wilkie
Wilkie supports the bill and urges both major parties to back it, saying it is a modest, easy and cheap reform that would help gamblers understand their losses and could save lives.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
Minor parties and independents
2 speakers · 2 support
Minor parties and independents
2 speakers · 2 support
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Rebekha Sharkie ★ Sharkie supports the bill and wants gambling apps to show real-time loss and win information prominently on every screen, saying the current monthly emails are too easy to miss.
“What this bill would do if passed is require every app to show in real time exactly what the losses are with a very simple banner at the top of the screen. Technology can do it. It's the will of this place that must change to make it happen.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Andrew Wilkie ★ Wilkie supports the bill and urges both major parties to back it, saying it is a modest, easy and cheap reform that would help gamblers understand their losses and could save lives.
“Circling back to the bill moved by the member for Mayo, it is great idea, easy to implement, won't cost much, will help members of the community, and, ultimately, will save lives.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
Full record
- Status
- Not Proceeding -- Collected from the APH bill page.
- Originating house
- House of Representatives
- 10 Feb 2025
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.
- 10 Feb 2025
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.