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Welcome to our
AUGUST NEWSLETTER

Check out all our latest updates

13/082022

CarolBennett

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.

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Alliance staff with representatives from Kingston City Council at the ALGA conference

Campaign Updates

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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

Latest Blogs

Read our latest blogs

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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. 

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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

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Media Release: The Alliance for Gambling Reform welcomes the ACT gambling reform package as an important step forward

15 September 2026

The Alliance for Gambling Reform (AGR) congratulates the ACT Labor Government on delivering on its election commitment to tackle gambling harm, welcoming a reform package that sets a new national benchmark for poker machine harm minimisation.

We hope every state government in the country follows suit to tackle poker machine harm with the same seriousness."

AGR supports the ban on ATM and EFTPOS cash withdrawals at venues with poker machines, simpler and stronger self-exclusion arrangements, the long-term reduction in poker machine numbers, and measures to help clubs build business models that rely less on gambling revenue.

However, AGR is concerned that the reforms do not go far enough in relation to mandated loss limits, legislating breaks in play, and reducing shutdown periods.

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Parents are speaking up for gambling reform

11 September 2026

Children today are growing up surrounded by gambling advertising — across sport, online platforms, and popular culture.

That's why The Alliance has launched Parents for Gambling Reform, a growing movement of parents and carers calling for stronger protections for children.

Their question is simple: "Why should children have to grow up surrounded by advertising that encourages gambling?"

Parents and carers can share their experiences, raise their concerns, and add their voices to the push for change.

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🗣️ 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.

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Gambling money, political power: Canberrans say enough

14 September 2026

86% of Canberrans want gambling industry donations out of ACT politics. 83% believe this money is shaping gambling reform decisions.

It's easy to see why - ACT parties have taken hundreds of thousands from the gambling industry, while reforms like advertising bans stay stalled. Meanwhile, the ACT saw over 72,000 gambling harm incidents last year - 200 a day.

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Thank you to the Reichstein Foundation

10 September 2026

We’re incredibly grateful to the Reichstein Foundation for its ongoing support of the Alliance for Gambling Reform and its commitment to gambling reform as an issue of social and economic justice.

Reichstein has supported our work since 2015, helping us sustain the long-term advocacy needed to push for stronger gambling laws, less gambling advertising and better protections for people and communities experiencing gambling harm.

Recent federal reforms fall short of the comprehensive change we need, so our work continues. We’re grateful to have long-term, values-aligned partners like Reichstein standing alongside us.

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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.

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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.

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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.  

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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.

CONTACT

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Have questions about our work or want to make a general inquiry? Please fill out the form below. 👇

If you have lived experience of gambling harm or are an affected other, visit our Voices page.

Thanks for submitting!

Our Community House

552 Victoria St, Wurundjeri Country,
North Melbourne 3051, VIC

 

Email: info@agr.org.au

Phone: (03) 9999 7372

Please note that the Alliance is an Advocacy organisation and is not equipped to assist with crisis. Please call 1800 858 858 for immediate support.

Media

For all media enquiries, please contact 

Phone: 07 2115 0820
Email: media@agr.org.au 

If you or someone you know is in need of support, please contact: Gambling Helpline 1800 858 858 | Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 | Lifeline 131 114

PRIVACY POLICY

ALL CONTENT IS © ALLIANCE FOR GAMBLING REFORM UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED. CREATED BY NNCREATIVE

The Alliance for Gambling Reform acknowledges we are living and working on Aboriginal land. We would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of this land and pay respect to Aboriginal Elders past, present and emerging.

© 2022 by Alliance for Gambling Reform. Proudly created with NNCreative

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