Proposed restrictions on gambling advertising have drawn criticism in Australia
Kate Cheney, an independent member of the Australian Parliament, criticized the negotiations between the ruling Labor Party and the Coalition regarding a package of gambling reforms. In her view, the proposed measures do not take into account the existing evidence of the harm caused by gambling advertising, and the government is yielding to the gambling lobby.
One of the government’s proposals calls for limiting television advertising for online gambling to three spots per hour between 6:00 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. Cheney believes that partial restrictions will not necessarily reduce the volume of advertising but may simply shift it to other times.
She cited the restrictions introduced in 2017. According to the lawmaker, following those restrictions, the number of gambling ads in time slots after 8:30 p.m. more than doubled, increasing by 131%.
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Cheney also stated that gambling companies make large political donations and have lobbyists in the parliament building. She claimed that media companies and sports organizations also earn significant revenue from gambling. The MP added that the average Australian household loses more on gambling than it spends on electricity.
Cheney participated in an investigation into the harms of gambling alongside the late Labor MP Peta Murphy. After the winter recess, the Australian Parliament has resumed its work, and the government is seeking agreements with the Coalition on reforming the National Disability Insurance Scheme, regulating gambling, and establishing a support mechanism for news media.
