The AFL’s chronic gambling problem continues to create serious conflicts of interests, undermines the integrity of the sport and exposes our kids to a tsunami of gambling ads, the Alliance’s Chief Advocate, Tim Costello, says.

This warning from the Alliance for Gambling Reform follows the news four-time premiership player, Luke Hodge, has stepped down from the All-Australian selection panel due to his relationship with a major betting agency.

The Federal Government’s gambling reforms fail to protect children from the relentless normalisation of gambling. Alliance CEO Martin Thomas warned: “The evidence shows that underage kids as young as 14 are being targeted through social media to download gambling apps.”

Alliance Voices Advocate Mark Kempster shared his past lived experience with ABC Radio National, revealing he placed his first bet at just 16 years old and was exposed to gambling through sporting culture from a young age. Mark warned that easy access to gambling apps saw gambling become “every hour of the day” and left him feeling “completely trapped by the whole thing.”

Gambling companies are designing products to exploit how our brains work - and our children are paying the price. The government’s reforms won’t begin until 2027, don’t ban online ads, and fall far short of what evidence shows is needed.

There’s still time. The Senate hasn’t voted yet, and stronger laws are possible - but only with public pressure.

A coroner is piecing together the final moments of a young man’s life, examining whether gambling companies played a role in his death. The inquest raises serious questions about companies ignoring clear red flags around inducements and gambling harm.

Alliance Voice for Gambling Reform Mark S said: "Regardless of the circumstance of this case which will be examined, we know inducements tend to disappear the moment a person starts winning - they appear to be reserved exclusively for consistent losers. This is precisely why the government must legislate a ban on all such inducements, which it conspicuously failed to do in its response tabled this week."

Join Pete and Gid as they discuss gambling reform with Mark Kempster from The Alliance, exploring the dubious enticements of gaming revenue and why action on gambling harm matters.

Over 80 “rewards clubs” in Australia are operating in a regulatory grey zone - offering luxury prizes while avoiding basic gambling safeguards like age checks, limits, and self-exclusion.

Experts warn the model is causing real gambling harm, especially as people chase life-changing wins to cover debts or medical costs.

“It’s just become gambling,” said Andreas Fung.

“Users may have no transparency about net losses… and no access to self-exclusion,” warned Kei Sakata.

Stronger regulation is urgently needed to protect consumers.