Australian senate committee backs online gambling reform package as legislation is agreed by coalition

The senate’s environment and communications legislation committee has endorsed the government’s proposed reforms to online gambling legislation. 

In a published report, the committee recommended the passage of two key bills, but urged amendments to strengthen critical provisions aimed at reducing gambling-related harms.

What did the inquiry cover?

The government’s reform package consists of the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026, which amends the the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 and the National Self-exclusion Register (Cost Recovery Levy) Amendment Bill 2026. 

The former focuses on introducing tighter controls on online gambling advertising, platform responsibilities and enforcement powers.

The latter aims to enable cost-recovery funding for a national BetStop awareness campaign from the wagering industry.

The joint inquiry into these reforms received 97 submissions featuring testimonies from public health experts, gambling harm survivors, broadcasters, wagering industry representatives, regulators and state government officials.

What is the intended bill? 

In 2023, the late MP Peta Murphy tabled an amendment to the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, to include a ban on gambling advertising.

The proposal began to flesh out a “ban on the broadcast, datacast and publication of licensed interactive wagering services”. It had 31 recommendations for reform.

The new Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026 is set to be an answer to the Murphy report which recommended, among other things, a blanket ban on gambling advertising.

The new reforms do not include a blanket ban on gambling advertising, but the government did opt for various strict harm-reduction measures. 

These include; 

• Advertising restrictions – ads will be capped at three per hour between 6.00am and 8.30pm and be banned during live sporting event coverage within specific times. It would also limit use of wagering logos on venues and influencers, ban wagering ads during school commuting hours.  
• Online content and platform controls – online content providers will be required to take “reasonable steps” to ensure that under-18s cannot access wagering advertising unless users have opted out. It would also introduce a “triple-lock” defence comprising log-in, age assurance and opt-out mechanisms.
• Disruption of illegal offshore operators – Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) powers to block unlicensed offshore gambling sites will be extended.
• BetStop Enhancements – the recommendations from a statutory review to increase penalties for breaches of self-exclusion and broadens enforcement powers will be implemented.
• Restrictions on keno and foreign-matched lotteries – certain online “keno-type” and foreign-matched lottery products that fall outside traditional regulated frameworks will be banned.

Banks will also be empowered to block payments to illegal online gambling operators. 

Committee’s findings and concerns

While broadly supportive, the committee highlighted several issues raised during submissions and hearings.

Advertisements

Despite time-window restriction limits, the committee noted evidence that many children continue to watch live sports events past the given watershed, exposing them to wagering ads that are permitted in post-8.30pm breaks.

In addition, the legislation will allow online platforms to serve wagering ads to verified users by default, requiring users to opt out. Experts and submitters in the report argued this approach is generally ineffective, as behavioural research indicated low rates of changing default settings. This would therefore potentially expose vulnerable users, including minors and people in recovery.

The committee also drew attention to the bill’s intention to allow existing sponsorship arrangements to continue with phased transitions, some of which are not set to expire until 2031. 

Public health advocates cited in the report warned this would maintain harmful exposure for years, whereas industry stakeholders claimed such timelines are necessary due to contractual obligations.

Bonuses

Contrary to the 2023 Murphy Inquiry recommendations, the bill does not ban inducements such as sign-up bonuses or “bet $10 get $50” offers. Lived-experience witnesses described how such promotions can exacerbate gambling addiction.

Technology groups cited in the report underscored ambiguities in key definitions (e.g., “wagering advertising content”, “notable person”) and noted reliance on “reasonable steps” standards subject to ACMA secondary guidance. This lacks parliamentary oversight. 

Concerns were also raised about the tight 1 January 2027 commencement timeline, given the technical challenges involved.

Full advertisement ban?

Some among the industry have voiced fears that stricter licensed provider rules may drive consumers to unregulated offshore sites. The bill included enhanced enforcement tools to mitigate this risk, although some argued that only a full advertising ban would effectively reduce demand.

The ban proposal drew mixed responses. Traditional lottery operators and some state governments supported restrictions distinguishing these products, whereas others, including the Northern Territory government, warned it would harm legitimate businesses without clear evidence of increased risk.

Back in 2024, the Green Party filed a blanket gambling ad ban to the Senate in October of 2024. 

“Such a ban has been recommended time and time again by experts and there is wide public support. It is what the community expects,” the bill read. 

Recommendations

The committee recommended that explicit resourcing be provided to ensure the authority’s new powers are effective.

The committee recommended the senate approve the bills but called for amendments to strengthen advertising restrictions and revise the online opt-out model, possibly switching to opt-in. 

It also recommended clarifying ambiguous draft provisions, shortening transitional grandfathering periods and introducing an immediate ban on gambling inducements.

The bill moves forward

In parliament on Tuesday, the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the bill would indeed be passed to a third reading after the bill was agreed upon by the Labour and Coalition parties.

He described the bill as “the most significant gambling advertising reform by any Australian government ever” and emphasised it would “increase protections for people who are most at risk of gambling harm while continuing to allow those who enjoy a bet to do so”.

“I commend the amended legislation to the house, and I’m very pleased that, after what’s been an extensive debate today, reform will move forward,” he concluded. 

Opposition continues

The bill has not been without its opposition however, with Responsible Wagering Australia (RWA) expressing disappointment that the reforms will push players “into the hands of criminal cartels running illegal offshore gambling sites”.

RWA CEO Kai Cantwell put specific emphasis on the issues around the opt-out advertising register, noting that it undermines measures such as BetStop. 

“This new global opt-out system, akin to BetStop, is proposed to be designed, developed and implemented in less than four months,” Cantwell said. “Betstop, which is a simpler concept, took more than four years from inception to implementation.”

The bill is expected to come into force on 1 January 2027.