This bill became law on Aug 26th, 2026.
Budget, tax & economy
Licensed online and phone betting providers can be charged for promoting BetStopA national service that lets people block themselves from licensed online and phone betting providers., the service that lets people block themselves from these providers.
Anika Wells (Labor), the communications minister, said only one in four people knew about BetStopA national service that lets people block themselves from licensed online and phone betting providers., the national service for blocking access to licensed online and phone betting. Awareness was only one in three among people who had bet during the previous 12 months. The government said betting companies, rather than taxpayers, should fund promotion of the service.
Australia established BetStopA national service that lets people block themselves from licensed online and phone betting providers.’s national self-exclusionChoosing to be blocked from specified gambling services. system in 2019, with licensed online and phone wagering providers funding its operation through a cost-recovery levyA charge on an industry to repay government costs linked to regulating or supporting it.; by February 2023, delays and doubts about whether the service would immediately work were already being reported. A February 2026 statutory review found that only one in four Australians knew BetStopA national service that lets people block themselves from licensed online and phone betting providers. existed, so the 2026 amendment expanded the levy to cover departmental promotion, awareness and other operating costs, and Parliament passed it before Royal Assent made it law on 26 August 2026.
Sarah Henderson (Liberal) argued that the wider gambling reform package was seriously flawed when introduced and had failed to tackle targeted betting offers or adequately protect children online. Larissa Waters (Australian Greens) argued the final package still allowed too many gambling advertisements, lacked a single national gambling regulator and made people opt out of ads instead of requiring them to opt in.
Hon Anika Wells MP introduced this bill. It passed with support from Labor, One Nation, Nationals; opposed by Greens, some crossbench members.
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 26 Aug 2026
Final passage
Recorded final vote
1 counted final-passage vote was recorded.
Passage speed
55 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
Licensed online and phone betting providers can be charged for promoting BetStopA national service that lets people block themselves from licensed online and phone betting providers., the service that lets people block themselves from these providers.
Licensed betting providers can be charged for other costs of operating BetStopA national service that lets people block themselves from licensed online and phone betting providers..
Licensed betting providers can be charged later for eligible BetStopA national service that lets people block themselves from licensed online and phone betting providers. costs missed in an earlier charging period.
The responsible federal department can recover its BetStopA national service that lets people block themselves from licensed online and phone betting providers. costs alongside the Australian Communications and Media Authority, the communications regulator.
BetStopA national service that lets people block themselves from licensed online and phone betting providers. users will see these funding changes begin on 1 January 2027.
2 At the end of subsection 10(1) ; (h) any costs incurred, during the levy period, by the ACMA or the Department in relation to promotion of the Register;National Self-exclusion Register (Cost Recovery Levy) Amendment Act 2026
2 At the end of subsection 10(1) ; (h) any costs incurred, during the levy period, by the ACMA or the Department in relation to promotion of the Register; (j) any other costs incurred by the ACMA or the Department, during the levy period, in relation to the operation of the Register;National Self-exclusion Register (Cost Recovery Levy) Amendment Act 2026
2 At the end of subsection 10(1) ; (h) any costs incurred, during the levy period, by the ACMA or the Department in relation to promotion of the Register; (j) any other costs incurred by the ACMA or the Department, during the levy period, in relation to the operation of the Register; (k) any costs incurred by the ACMA or the Department, during a previous levy period, in relation to the operation of the Register that have not been counted for the purposes of this subsection.National Self-exclusion Register (Cost Recovery Levy) Amendment Act 2026
1 Section 6 (definition of cost) Repeal the definition, substitute: (a) in relation to the ACMA, means an amount that, in accordance with accrual‑based accounting principles, is treated as a cost of the ACMA; or (b) in relation to the Department, means an amount that, in accordance with accrual‑based accounting principles, is treated as a cost of the Department.National Self-exclusion Register (Cost Recovery Levy) Amendment Act 2026
2 Commencement (1) Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms. Commencement information Commencement Date/Details 1. Sections 1 to 3 and anything in this Act not elsewhere covered by this table The day this Act receives the Royal Assent. 2. Schedule 1 1 January 2027. 1 January 2027National Self-exclusion Register (Cost Recovery Levy) Amendment Act 2026
Context
Australia established BetStopA national service that lets people block themselves from licensed online and phone betting providers.’s national self-exclusionChoosing to be blocked from specified gambling services. system in 2019, with licensed online and phone wagering providers funding its operation through a cost-recovery levyA charge on an industry to repay government costs linked to regulating or supporting it.; by February 2023, delays and doubts about whether the service would immediately work were already being reported. A February 2026 statutory review found that only one in four Australians knew BetStopA national service that lets people block themselves from licensed online and phone betting providers. existed, so the 2026 amendment expanded the levy to cover departmental promotion, awareness and other operating costs, and Parliament passed it before Royal Assent made it law on 26 August 2026.
Australia creates BetStopA national service that lets people block themselves from licensed online and phone betting providers. and an industry levy
The 2019 legislation established a national self-exclusionChoosing to be blocked from specified gambling services. mechanism and imposed a levy on licensed interactive wagering providers to recover BetStopA national service that lets people block themselves from licensed online and phone betting providers. costs.
National Self-exclusion Register (Cost Recovery Levy) Amendment explanatory memorandum ↗BetStopA national service that lets people block themselves from licensed online and phone betting providers. nears launch after delays and doubts
ABC reported that the register had been delayed, with some observers doubtful it would immediately succeed, while its estimated $40 million build and operating cost to 2027 was to be covered by industry.
ABC News ↗Statutory review finds BetStopA national service that lets people block themselves from licensed online and phone betting providers. awareness is low
The review found that only one in four people knew BetStopA national service that lets people block themselves from licensed online and phone betting providers. existed, highlighting the need for more promotion and public information.
Department of Infrastructure ↗Hon Anika Wells MP introduces the levy amendment
Hon Anika Wells MP introduced the bill to let the existing levy recover the Department’s BetStopA national service that lets people block themselves from licensed online and phone betting providers. promotion, public information and awareness costs as well as ACMAThe Australian Communications and Media Authority, the federal communications regulator.’s costs.
Hansard ↗Parliament passes the bill
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing the amendment’s parliamentary passage.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Royal Assent makes the amendment law
The Governor-General gave Royal Assent, turning the bill into an Act and completing the legislative change.
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
Referred to Committee (02/07/2026): Senate and Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Committee report (17/08/2026)
Report tabled 17 Aug 2026
APH bill page notesThe bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
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.
Recorded vote: 29 to 13.
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Recorded vote: 37 to 13.
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Finally passed both Houses
The Governor-General gave Royal Assent, turning the bill into an Act.
Key criticism
Sarah Henderson (Liberal) argued that the wider gambling reform package was seriously flawed when introduced and had failed to tackle targeted betting offers or adequately protect children online. Larissa Waters (Australian Greens) argued the final package still allowed too many gambling advertisements, lacked a single national gambling regulator and made people opt out of ads instead of requiring them to opt in.
The government said an agreement with the Coalition strengthened the wider package by tightening advertising rules, creating one place to opt out of online betting ads and restricting targeted betting offers. These criticisms mainly concerned that companion package, not the levy changes in this bill.
Too narrow to curb gambling harm
Critics warned that better funding and promotion for BetStopA national service that lets people block themselves from licensed online and phone betting providers. would not prevent continuing harm if gambling advertising, inducements and other industry practices remained insufficiently regulated. They sought a complete online advertising ban, stronger harm-reduction rules and fuller implementation of the Murphy report.
Further sources
Votes
The chamber-passage votes come first. Expand a vote to see the party breakdown.
House agreed to the bill's third reading on the voicesA vote decided by spoken responses, without recorded totals., so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Passed 37 to 13. Support came from Labor, One Nation, and Nationals. Opposition came from Greens and minor parties and independents. 3 cross-floor votes were recorded: Alex Antic (Liberal), Andrew McLachlan Csc (Liberal), and Paul Scarr (Liberal). Liberal had split recorded votes.
Earlier bill-stage votes
Passed 29 to 13. Support came from Labor, One Nation, and Nationals. Opposition came from Greens, Jacqui Lambie Network, and minor parties and independents. 2 cross-floor votes were recorded: Andrew McLachlan Csc (Liberal) and Paul Scarr (Liberal). Liberal had split recorded votes.
Amendments grouped by chamber. These cards include amendment outcomes recorded without a counted division.
Senate
Defeated 11 to 24. Support came from Greens, Jacqui Lambie Network, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor and Liberal.
The Senate rejected the proposed second-reading statement, leaving the motion unchanged.
Defeated 11 to 24. Support came from Greens, Jacqui Lambie Network, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor and Liberal.
The Senate rejected the proposed second-reading statement, so the call for a donations ban was not added to the motion.
Moved by Hanson-Young. Defeated 12 to 32. Support came from Greens and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor and Nationals. 2 cross-floor votes were recorded: Andrew McLachlan Csc (Liberal) and Paul Scarr (Liberal). Liberal had split recorded votes.
The Senate rejected the proposal, so these requirements for the future regulator were not added to the bills.
Defeated 10 to 30. Support came from Greens and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor, Liberal, and Nationals.
The proposed change was not agreed.
Defeated 21 to 39. Support came from Liberal, Nationals, and Liberal Party. Opposition came from Labor, Greens, One Nation, and minor parties and independents.
The proposed change was not agreed.
Defeated 12 to 28. Support came from Greens and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor. 2 cross-floor votes were recorded: Andrew McLachlan Csc (Liberal) and Paul Scarr (Liberal). Liberal had split recorded votes.
The proposed change was not agreed.
Sarah Hanson-Young's amendment said gambling interests had donated more than $10 million to the major parties and called for those donations to be banned.
Defeated on voices
The chamber decided this amendment without a counted division, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes.
Lidia Thorpe's amendment sought rejection of the bill, citing inadequate consultation and the absence of a national regulator focused on reducing harm.
Defeated on voices
The chamber decided this amendment without a counted division, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes.
The amendment was defeated on the voicesA vote decided by spoken responses, without recorded totals.. The evidence does not reveal its narrower policy subject.
Defeated on voices
The chamber decided this amendment without a counted division, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes.
The amendments were defeated on the voicesA vote decided by spoken responses, without recorded totals.. The evidence does not reveal their narrower policy subjects.
Defeated on voices
The chamber decided this amendment without a counted division, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes.
This list includes amendment votes, procedural votes and votes on the bill itself.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
Wells supports the bill because it will make gambling companies, rather than taxpayers, fund a broader range of work to promote and improve awareness of BetStopA national service that lets people block themselves from licensed online and phone betting providers..
Read in Hansard ↗Haines says the bill is unpassable in its current form because its limited advertising restrictions fall far short of the comprehensive gambling-harm reforms recommended by the Murphy report, though she indicates stronger government amendments could change its prospects.
Read in Hansard ↗Allegra Spender supports the bill because it strengthens BetStopA national service that lets people block themselves from licensed online and phone betting providers. and protections for people who self-exclude, while arguing that the broader gambling reforms should go further to protect the community.
Read in Hansard ↗Ryan indicates the bill will pass but says it is far too weak to protect Australians from gambling harm, and she will seek amendments requiring large professional sporting organisations to disclose their tax-free gambling revenue.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
11 speakers · 12 contributions · 11 support
“In addition, the legislation introduces reforms to strengthen BetStop, the National Self-Exclusion Register, recognising the critical role it plays in vulnerable Australians' self-exclusion from gambling. To that end, this bill, along with the National Self-exclusion Register (Cost Recovery Levy) Amendment Bill 2026, ensures that the government can recover the costs of strengthening BetStop. That was a key recommendation of the statutory review of BetStop, helping to drive uptake of this essential service which has already seen 64,500 registrations by the end of June.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Through the reforms, Labor is also strengthening BetStop the National Self-Exclusion Register. People suffering from gambling often reach a point where they genuinely need help. The challenge is that addiction makes it difficult to stop. BetStop gives Australians a practical way to exclude themselves from licensed wagering providers. Labor's reforms strengthen this system, making it more effective and more responsive for people seeking support.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“These reforms build on the action the Albanese government has delivered. We banned the use of credit cards for online wagering. We launched BetStop. We stopped gambling companies claiming the research and development tax incentive. We put further protections in place through the National Consumer Protection Framework for Online Wagering. This bill takes the next steps. It reduces advertising, strengthens self-exclusion, disrupts illegal operators and bans harmful new products. No Australian government has brought forward gambling reforms of this breadth. The scale reflects a clear public expectation that governments must act.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The changes will strengthen BetStop so protections extend beyond email and text messages to apps, push notifications and emerging technology. Self-exclusion should mean self-exclusion, not, 'We stopped emailing you, but here's a push notification instead.' The related levy legislation will also support greater promotion of BetStop. That is important because a service cannot help someone who does not know it exists.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“While the BetStop review found the system is working, we don't think enough people know that it exists. The review found that only one in four people were aware of BetStop. Of those who had placed a bet in the last 12 months, only one in three knew about this important protection measure. This legislation seeks to strengthen BetStop, to make sure that more people know about the difference it could be making to their lives by funding a standalone advertising campaign along with strengthened education campaigns to boost community awareness of BetStop. At the same time, these changes improve data matching between BetStop and industry systems and increase monitoring and compliance activities with online wagering providers.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The review of BetStop found that public awareness remains far too low. Only one in four Australians know the service exists. Even among people who have gambled in the previous 12 months, awareness rises only to one in three. That tells us there is more work to do. These amendments will strengthen BetStop by providing greater protection from gambling, marketing and inducements for those who have chosen to self-exclude. The accompanying cost recovery levy bill will also support the national awareness campaign, ensuring more Australians know where to turn before gambling harm takes hold.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This is a long road that governments of all levels, organisations and civil societies must traverse to meaningfully combat gambling harm. But the time for delays, for inquiries and for setbacks is over. Those who would prefer to wait to push back the passage of this bill in an endless procession of debate, to continue kicking the can down the road for the next generation, must recognise that lassitude has its cost. These reforms must commence from 1 January 2027. Debate, discussion and democratic contest is welcome, but action must be taken. The timely passage of this bill is of the utmost importance to ensure that families, victims of gambling harm and children can have the confidence to navigate the online world free of endless gambling inducements, without delay. That's why I commend this bill to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“There are further ways we can utilise and strengthen the great work of BetStop, and that's what this bill aims to do. We know that this measure is helping people take control of their lives. This bill builds on the work that we have done with BetStop. It introduces some of the most significant gambling reforms Australia has seen in years. It restricts gambling ads across television, radio and online platforms. It removes wagering ads from live sport during key viewing periods. It prevents gambling ads on radio during school drop-off and pick-up times. It prohibits celebrities, athletes and influencers from promoting gambling products, and it removes gambling branding from jerseys and sporting venues. Taken together, these reforms are designed to achieve a simple objective: to ensure that Australians, especially children, aren't exposed to the amount of gambling promotion that we are currently seeing in our daily lives.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This Bill enables the ACMA to recover the costs of those activities through a levy imposed on licensed interactive wagering service providers. It is appropriate that the wagering industry, rather than taxpayers, bears the costs of regulating these activities.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Australians should be able to sit down with their families and watch their favourite team without being bombarded by gambling advertising. Children should be able to grow up loving sport without being taught that sport and gambling are inseparable. Adults at risk of gambling harm need to have access to resources and supports to confront and overcome their addiction. And gambling companies need to be more accountable. At the end of the day, we must all work to better protect people from the harms and impacts of gambling. That is what this bill sets out to achieve. Australians should be able to love their sport for what it is: the contest, the skill, the drama and the connection to community—not the odds. I commend the bill to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Anika Wells on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.
Minister's second reading speech
Wells supports the bill because it will make gambling companies, rather than taxpayers, fund a broader range of work to promote and improve awareness of BetStopA national service that lets people block themselves from licensed online and phone betting providers..
“This bill will expand the cost-recovery framework to ensure it covers the full range of activities that ACMA and the department undertake to ensure the effectiveness of the register, including promotion and awareness raising activities.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Second reading speech
Wells says the government wants the bill passed because making the gambling industry fund a national awareness campaign will help more Australians learn about and access BetStopA national service that lets people block themselves from licensed online and phone betting providers. without cost to taxpayers. She remains open to amendments that would strengthen the broader reforms.
“What we have before us is a significant and meaningful suite of reforms that will do more than any other Australian government has to protect children, families and communities from gambling harms. These reforms will minimise children's exposure to wagering advertising while reducing the overall saturation of advertising on television and radio and the targeting and saturation of advertising online. The bill also contains provisions to disrupt illegal gambling operators and crack down on online lottery products. The bill also strengthens BetStop, the national self-exclusion register, so it can better support Australians at risk of gambling harm. The cost recovery levy bill enables the costs of a comprehensive national awareness campaign to be recovered from industry, ensuring more Australians know about BetStop and can access it when they need to with no cost to taxpayers.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
1 speaker · 1 unclear
“First of all, I want to say that there are some subjects in the House that have bipartisan support. We all want to see the harm from gambling reduced. How that is done and what is implemented may or may not actually end up with that outcome. This is about outcomes. It should never be about the headline. The coalition, in good faith, has been working with the current government to ensure that we get the best bill forward.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
4 speakers · 2 support · 2 oppose
“I support elements of the bill: the prohibition of the promotion of odds, the strengthening of BetStop, the protections it provides to those who choose to self-exclude and the stronger regulation of illegal gambling services. Those are useful changes. I want to be clear because there is some confusion here. I think there are some people in the parliament who have said, 'We don't want to ban gambling.' I'm not trying to ban gambling either. I never have. I think that is up to people to choose, but I also think that we should recognise that the advertising that we currently have is harming our community and is harming our kids. We can do that piece of removing those advertisements. Then, if people want to keep on gambling, it's up to them. Those are the choices we could make as a community, and the government, at the moment, is choosing not to.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“We need to reform the Commonwealth Electoral Act to ban political donations from predatory industries so that Labor's next election isn't funded off the back of everyday punters and Australians with a gambling addiction. We need better, robust political donation laws. We need to ensure that prediction markets around the electoral system are snuffed out, and we need a national lobbying act so that the major parties' relationships with lobbyists can finally be regulated. When this bill is passed, Australians will be told that this government did enough. Let me tell you now: it's not enough, and this is not the end of the line for this issue.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“It's been widely reported that there will be further changes to this bill. In its current form, the bill is unpassable, so it seems the government will be dragged kicking and screaming to take stronger action to get it through the parliament. I can't speak to any government amendments at this point because they haven't been circulated. So often in this place we're dealing with problems that don't have an obvious solution. This is not one of those times. The evidence couldn't be clearer. Everyone in Australia except the gambling companies and apparently this government knows what needs to be done. Since this bill was introduced, I have received hundreds of emails from people in my electorate who are not just disappointed that the government won't commit to a full ban; they are outraged. I've grappled with whether I should support this bill. It falls so far short of what we know is needed. As a legislator, I ask myself: when we know what good looks like, how low are we willing to set the bar? It's a very important consideration.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“We have the power to do it here in this chamber. That's what we're here for. We should be doing it now in this House. We need to do it. We need real action, the full 31 recommendations of the Murphy report implemented and inducements banned. Our communities want the ads off our TVs and off our kids' screens. Let's stand up to the moneyed interests and put our children and our communities first. The compromised half-measures in this bill are simply not good enough. We need a complete ban on online gambling advertising.”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 · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
House · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Senate · 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.
Senate · 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.
Senate · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate · Second reading agreed to
Recorded vote: 29 to 13.
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Senate · Committee of the Whole debate
Committee of the Whole debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate · Third reading agreed to
Recorded vote: 37 to 13.
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Parliament · Finally passed both Houses
Passed both houses
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Assent · Assent
Assent
The Governor-General gave Royal Assent, turning the bill into an Act.
Senate and Environment and Communications Legislation Committee
Report tabled 17 Aug 2026
Referred to Committee (2 July 2026): Senate and Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Committee report (17 Aug 2026)
APH bill page notes
