Welcome to our
AUGUST NEWSLETTER
Check out all our latest updates
13/082022

Carol Bennett
Chief Executive Officer
News from our CEO
It’s been a busy time here at the Alliance with more public attention focussed on gambling and its harms than ever before. A huge thank you to you for your continued support!
The Alliance would like to share a few of the things we’ve been up to. Here’s a quick whip around of what’s been happening. As always, we appreciate your feedback and insights and if you would like to support our work you can do so here
Out and About
On Tuesday, June 14, we hosted a successful fundraising event, “An evening with Tim Costello”. The evening focused on what we can do to stamp out sports gambling ads, and shared powerful stories of the lived experience of gambling harm.
We also attended the National Australian Local Government Association conference in Canberra, working with many of our Leadership Councils to denounce gambling harm and work towards offering alternative late-night options.
The event was attended by Carol Bennett (CEO), Kasuni Mendis (Councils Gambling Harm Support Officer) and Board member Susan Rennie.
In other local government news, we are working closely with Kingston City Council, in an effort to close a planning loophole enabling close proximity of gambling venues and supermarkets.
.jpg)
Alliance staff with representatives from Kingston City Council at the ALGA conference
Campaign Updates

We’ve been keeping abreast of the Royal Commissions into Crown and Star Casinos.
We’ve welcomed the Australian Communications and Media’s (ACMA’s) actions towards a National Self Exclusion Register and Hawthorn Football Club’s divestment form Poker machines.
We’ve supported the Victorian Gaming Minister’s new Gambling harm minimisation measures,
We supported the Mparntwe/Alice Springs community in its campaign to stop new poker machines in their community with a petition and call for submissions.
We eagerly await the results of the NSW government’s White Paper on gambling harm minimisation

Voices for Gambling Reform -
"A journey from harm to empowerment"
In June, Anna Bardsley, Paul Fung and Carolyn Crawford presented A journey from harm to empowerment at the 2022 NZ International Gambling Conference.
They spoke about their work within Voices for Gambling Reform, a key program of AGR that supports and empowers people impacted by gambling harm to be powerful advocates for change.
Too often “consumers” are engaged in ways that are shallow and disrespectful of their knowledge and expertise, instead of being given meaningful decision-making power and being included in organisational power structures.
The workshop invited participants to do better in this area.

Submissions
This month, we provided submissions to the NSW Crime Commission clubs and pubs inquiry into money laundering, input to the Vic Department of Justice for the Royal Commission legislation and the ACT government on lower bets and credit limits inquiry.
We are currently working on two major casino inquiry submissions in both Queensland and South Australia. We will engage our Voices for Gambling Reform group to bring lived experience to the fore.
Our
Social Media
Here are some of our most popoular stories on social media.
Follow us on Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn

🗣️ AFL FANS — WHAT WOULD YOU CHOOSE?
4 September 2026
The AFL Fans Association 2026 Fan Survey is LIVE — and this year it’s asking some important questions about the future of the game. Especially when it comes to gambling.
The AFL has to make difficult choices and trade-offs. But what would YOU choose?
Have your say in the AFL Fans Association Survey and go into the draw to win $500 or one of five $100 prizes.

Thank You, Martin
28 August 2026
Today marks Martin Thomas’s final day as CEO of The Alliance.
We want to thank Martin for his leadership, dedication and unwavering commitment to reducing gambling harm across Australia. His contribution has helped strengthen The Alliance, amplify the voices of those affected by gambling harm and build momentum for meaningful reform.
Martin will be dearly missed by our staff, Voices, partners, councils, supporters and donors.

Home loan warning: betting transactions under the microscope
23 August 2026
Frequent online betting transactions are increasingly raising red flags for lenders, with men reportedly among those being knocked back for home loans.
With footy finals approaching, betting activity is expected to rise as more people turn to online betting around major sporting events.
Alliance Voices Advocate Mark Kempster says: “Betting is such a huge part of our sporting culture, and we’ve normalised it so much without thinking about the consequences in the long term.”
And the consequences can come as a surprise, with men reportedly being knocked back for home loans.

Welcome Noosa Shire Council
31 August 2026
The Alliance is delighted to welcome Noosa Shire Council as a Leadership Council, joining a growing network of local councils committed to reducing gambling harm.
Local councils see firsthand the impact gambling can have on individuals, families and communities. By working together, we can strengthen advocacy, raise awareness and push for reforms that create healthier, safer communities.
We welcome Noosa Shire Council’s commitment to this important work and look forward to achieving meaningful change together.

Farewell and Thank You, Martin Thomas
26 August 2026
The Alliance announces the resignation of CEO Martin Thomas, whose leadership, commitment and tireless advocacy have made an enormous contribution to our work tackling gambling harm.
Martin will be dearly missed by everyone at The Alliance.
Subject to Martin’s approval, we propose the following words from him:
“Leading The Alliance has been an enormous privilege. I want to sincerely thank our supporters and donors, partners, councils, Voices and staff for their extraordinary commitment to reducing gambling harm. The progress we have made together gives me great hope for the future, and I know The Alliance will continue to be a powerful voice for change.”
We are deeply grateful to Martin for everything he has given to The Alliance and wish him every success for the future.

“This was a missed opportunity.”
22 August 2026
That’s the conclusion of Peter Hartcher’s opinion piece in The Age examining the government’s new gambling laws and what was left out.
The new laws include a limit of three gambling ads per hour between 5am and 8.30pm, but fall short of the 2023 Murphy Report’s recommendation for a phased, comprehensive ban on gambling advertising.
Alliance Chief Advocate Tim Costello summed up the advertising restrictions: “As if we would protect our kids with just three cigarette ads an hour.”
Hartcher also looks at the decision not to ban online gambling inducements, despite the Murphy Report recommending that the Australian government prohibit all online gambling inducements and inducement advertising.
The article examines concerns about the reliance of free-to-air television and sporting codes on gambling advertising revenue, as well as David Pocock’s proposal for a 1 per cent levy on the gambling industry to help fund community sport and television.

You can also see all the latest media featuring the Alliance for Gamlbing Reform via our website.
You can also view our latest Media Releases.

Independent Reviews into casinos operating in Queensland and South Australia are now underway. AGR has worked to achieve input to NSW, WA and Victorian Inquiries to date.
Your financial support will enable us to provide timely and high quality advice and advocacy, informed by expert evidence-based harm reduction policy recommendations and the input of people with lived-experience of gambling harm.

Alliance for Gambling Reform is proud to partner with Gathered Here to offer you the opportunity to write your Will for free (plus free & unlimited updates of your Will for life).
If you don't have a legal will, you can get a free, simple online will through Gathered Here.
Bequests can also be made to the Alliance for Gambling Reform to continue our vital work.
.png)


