“The government’s reforms as a whole do nowhere near what the Murphy Report into online gambling recommended – these were a full gambling ad ban, the banning of inducements, the creation of a national gambling regulator and to treat gambling as a public health issue,” Rev. Costello said.

“If the government did anything near this then there would be overwhelming support within the community and the parliament for these changes – but what is proposed is a mere shadow or smokescreen.

“The government’s proposed reforms will not protect children, will not delink sport and wagering and will not end the saturation of media ads that Australian’s are being exposed to every day.”

“The evidence shows that underage kids as young as 14 are being targeted through social media to download gambling apps, and betting ads are appearing in children’s games and increasingly popular online games are including gambling-type functions. Our kids are also exposed to a tsunami of gambling ads on television and through the sports broadcasts,” Mr Thomas said.

“Tragically this target of our young kids is working with research by the Australia Institute showing more than 600,000 underaged kids (aged 12-17) bet more than $18 million a year.” 

“This is possibly our last, best chance to get strong laws to protect our children and to protect the community,” Mr Thomas said.

“It is a golden opportunity to lock in stronger laws now so that we can stop the gambling industry and the damage it causes our communities.”