The Self Help Addiction Resource Centre (SHARC), an Australian charity focused on addiction support, has endorsed a comprehensive ban on gambling advertisements to protect children and individuals at risk of gambling-related harm.
The Australian government is currently considering a scaled-back version of the blanket gambling ad ban that was proposed in the 2023 Murphy Report. This alternative approach would introduce a cap, limiting gambling ads to two per hour until 10pm, with a complete ban during the hour before and after live sports broadcasts.
SHARC’s CEO, Clare Davies, highlighted the nation’s alarming gambling statistics, noting that Australians lose $25 billion annually, according to an Australian Gambling Statistics report, which reported a total expenditure of $25.9 billion in 2018-19. “The repercussions of gambling extend beyond financial losses—it also affects the well-being of gamblers, their families, and friends,” Davies emphasized.
Davies further criticized some gambling operators for allegedly targeting children through partnerships with sports figures and media personalities in Australia. SHARC’s letter also referenced data from a 2016 report on gambling-related harm in Victoria, which linked gambling to a range of social issues including mental illness, family violence, poverty, substance abuse, and homelessness.
An alliance of former politicians, including ex-prime ministers John Howard and Malcolm Turnbull, has also voiced support for the total ad ban, citing the increase in severe social harms such as financial loss, health and mental health crises, domestic violence, family breakdowns, and suicides. This group sent a letter to the government in August, urging them to enact a complete ban on gambling advertising within three years.
According to Jamie Nettleton, a partner at Addisons Gambling Law, the government’s final response is expected soon, after which the proposal will need to be legislated in parliament.
Government Prioritizes Child Protection
Government ministers have opposed a total ban, arguing that the loss of gambling ad revenue could threaten the viability of free-to-air media in the country. Minister Bill Shorten indicated that the government’s response to the Murphy Report should prioritize protecting children from gambling exposure, which includes restricting sponsorships in stadiums and on sports jerseys.
Echoing this sentiment, shadow minister for finance and public services Jane Hume stated that the Liberal party’s policy to prohibit ads during sports broadcasts aims to shield children who watch sports with their families.
In a related suggestion, the Australian Institute think tank has proposed a 2% levy on operator revenue, which could be used to compensate for the loss of advertising income.