The Australian government has secured parliamentary support for gambling reforms that will create a national opt-out system for online wagering advertising and impose tighter controls on inducement marketing.
The agreement with the Coalition adds measures to the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill, including restrictions on direct inducements, limits on commissions linked to customer spending and a three-year review.
Communications Minister Anika Wells said the amendments followed concerns raised during the parliamentary process.
New System Will Cover Online Wagering Ads
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) will develop the Wagering Advertising Opt-out Register. People will be able to indicate that they do not want wagering advertisements shown online and have that preference applied across their services.
The government said costs for the register and new inducement restrictions will be recovered from wagering service providers. Online services must also make the opt-out function prominent.
The reforms add advertising controls covering children’s programming and live sport. The blackout period will begin 15 minutes before live sporting events, while online services will face restrictions mirroring those applying to broadcast platforms. Live sport and frequency-cap restrictions will also begin at 5am rather than 6am.
The package retains a daytime television advertising cap and restrictions on gambling advertising during live sporting coverage.
Inducements Face Tighter Limits
The amendments prohibit wagering companies from directly marketing inducements during the first 14 days after a customer opens an account. The restriction also applies to customers identified as at risk of gambling-related harm and extends for three months after someone deregisters from BetStop.
Companies will also be prohibited from paying staff or affiliates commissions based on customer activity.
The measures followed negotiations between Labor and the Coalition after concerns that the original bill did not sufficiently address inducement-based marketing or the burden placed on people seeking to avoid gambling advertising.
The government expects ACMA to monitor and enforce the requirements, with a review scheduled after three years. Wells described the package as “the most significant reforms to online gambling in Australia’s history.”
Critics Say Broader Reform Remains Necessary
The agreement has drawn criticism from advocates who argue that the legislation remains narrower than recommendations from the 2023 Murphy inquiry.
The inquiry called for a comprehensive ban on gambling advertising across broadcast and online media, phased in over three years, alongside an immediate prohibition on inducements. The reforms instead establish advertising limits and targeted inducement restrictions.
Independent senator David Pocock criticised the parliamentary inquiry’s recommendation to pass the legislation. He said, “We heard from basically everyone other than the gambling companies who said this bill does not protect children, it doesn’t break the link between sport and gambling companies,” according to the material provided.
The legislation also addresses illegal gambling services through new access controls, penalties and enforcement provisions. Critics argue that legal gambling remains a major source of gambling harm and that stronger consumer protections are required.
The bill is expected to pass with support from both major parties, although opposition remains over whether the measures provide sufficient protection.
Source:
“Government agrees to ad opt-out register in deal with Coalition to pass gambling reforms”, abc.net.au, August 17, 2026
