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IN THE NEWS
The government has made a move on gambling ads — but it’s only a partial step.
94.7 The Pulse Radio
14 Apr 2026
With the legislation still to pass Parliament, there’s a critical window to strengthen it.
“There is now a really golden opportunity to strengthen these reforms.”
Martin Thomas, CEO of the Alliance for Gambling Reform, told Rob Cameron on Sports Fix on 94.7 The Pulse Radio.
Now is the time to get it right.
0.8% Cut - A Missed Opportunity on Gambling Harm
The Guardian
8 Apr 2026
New analysis shows the government’s gambling ad restrictions will cut spending by just 0.8% - a minimal dent in a system causing widespread gambling harm. Even the government’s own report admits a stronger approach would do more.
“while a full ban was identified to have a higher net benefit, it would also impose a significant financial burden on industry which would impact Australia’s grassroots sport and media industry”
We must ask - who is being protected here?
The community deserves bold action that prioritises people over profits.
Partial reform, lasting harm
Perceived Pressure Substack
6 Apr 2026
Australia’s new gambling reforms are a step forward—but they don’t go far enough to stop lives being ruined.
Mark Kempster, Alliance Voices Advocate, writes: “I was a nervous wreck the morning I gave my evidence… I was shaking the whole time I gave my evidence — recounting how many times gambling companies had targeted me with inducements and advertising, even as I was trying to self-exclude every month.”
Despite giving evidence and hoping for meaningful reform, these partial measures ignore the key recommendations of Peta Murphy’s inquiry. Gambling ads will still appear frequently, inducements remain unchecked, and there is no national regulator—leaving Australians exposed to harm and vulnerable to addiction.
Gambling Industry Moves to Influence Gambling Reforms
Responsible Wagering Australia
2 Apr 2026
The peak body for the gambling industry, Responsible Wagering Australia, is already moving to meet with Coalition and Crossbench politicians—no doubt to push to water down Labor’s proposed gambling reforms (as stated in their media release on 2 April 2026).
This is how it works. As soon as reform is on the table, the industry moves fast to protect its profits.
They represent some of the biggest betting companies in the country: bet365, Betfair, PointsBet, Sportsbet, Picklebet, CrownBet and Unibet—companies with deep pockets and a lot to lose.
And here’s the reality: the reforms already don’t go far enough to protect children and reduce gambling harm.
If the gambling industry succeeds in watering them down further, the harm will only continue.
1000 Days. Still No Action on Gambling Harm - Mark on Triple J
Tripple J Hack
24 Mar 2026
Alliance Voices Advocate Mark Kempster has spoken out again, highlighting the catastrophic impact gambling advertising is having on young Australians and calling out the government’s failure to act.
It has now been 1,000 days since the Murphy Report outlined 31 recommendations to reduce gambling harm, yet no meaningful reform has been delivered.
Families and communities continue to pay the price. What's your reason? Share with us today.
Join the Conversation in #Tasmania: Young People & Online Gambling Harm
Anglicare Tasmania
20 Mar 2026
Anglicare Tasmania is hosting free community events in Hobart, Devonport, and Launceston this April, exploring the impact of online gambling on young Tasmanians.
Alliance Voices Advocate, Mark Kempster, will share his personal story: he placed his first bet at 15, drawn in by a culture where betting felt normal within the sport he loved. By his early 30s, gambling had cost him $100,000 and nearly his relationship with his family. Today, he speaks openly about how gambling reshaped his personality, the moment everything collapsed, and the steps he took to rebuild his life.
Mark will be in conversation with radio host Andy ‘Tubes’ Taylor, offering insight into how online gambling first takes hold during the teenage years, why it can feel normal in sport and youth culture, the hidden impacts on mental health and relationships, and practical ways families and communities can prevent harm and support young people early.
A Father who Broke the Cycle of Gambling Harm
The Alliance
18 Mar 2026
Australians lose $31 billion to gambling every year. But behind the numbers are families like Terry’s.
Introduced to gambling as a child, Terry’s early win sparked decades of gambling harm that cost him his studies, stability and home. After a frightening wake-up call, he chose recovery. Today, 37 years on, he’s a proud father, grandfather and advocate with The Alliance.
"Gambling is a lose-lose situation," he says. "My past will never be my son's or grandson's future."
His message is urgent: "Please don't wait until it is too late. Let every one of us start a conversation on the road to saving many more lives."
Keep VicHealth Independent and Strong for a Healthier Future #SaveVicHealth
FARE Australia
4 Mar 2026
VicHealth has improved lives across Victoria for 40 years through independent, community-led health promotion. Plans to absorb it into the Department of Health risk weakening prevention, innovation and local impact.
Prevention reduces harm, saves lives and eases pressure on our health system. Now is the time to strengthen independent public health - not dismantle it.
Strong prevention systems are also critical to tackling gambling harm and other preventable health risks.
#PokiesFreePubs Are Putting People Before Profit
Sydney Morning Herald - Good Food
11 Feb 2026
A growing wave of Sydney pubs is proving you can run a successful venue without poker machines. From Paddington to Chippendale, operators are replacing gambling rooms with food, outdoor spaces and community hubs.
As one publican said: “100 per cent we’d do it again, I think they [poker machines] are a moral hazard, I’ve seen the harm they can do.”
Meanwhile, NSW poker machine losses hit $2.45 billion in just three months - a “public health catastrophe impacting every postcode and community”.
Communities are backing pubs that choose people over gambling harm. It’s time for reform that puts families first.
A David and Goliath Tale: A Time for Bravery
The Australia Institute
2 Feb 2026
"When I read Tim’s chapter in the book Brave; the silent suffering that had been my family's secret, danced across the pages with staggering clarity.
With magnanimity and resolve, Peta Murphy and Tim Costello have taken up guerrilla warfare against the gambling industry, who line the pockets of our state and federal governments and thank god.
Tim and Peta's fight has been fought, not for themselves, but for the Australian families, like mine, who lose every day.
A David and Goliath tale.
This is leadership. This is bravery. Vale Peta Murphy. "
You can buy A Time for Bravery from The Australia Institute here:
Watered down policies in Tasmania not enough
ABC Radio Hobart
26 Jan 2026
Alliance Voices Advocate Mark Kempster joins ABC Mornings with David Reilly to unpack why mandatory pre-commitment is essential to stop people chasing losses - and why walking away from this reform is a failure for public health.
They also dive into the Deloitte report that clearly outlines the steps needed to reduce gambling harm.
How gaming is getting Aussie kids hooked on gambling
Money Mag
22 Jan 2026
From loot boxes to casino-style minigames, gambling is being gamified; and kids are paying the price. Almost 1 million Australians aged 12 to 19 gambled last year – more than played footy, cricket or basketball. Many first encounter gambling through games that mimic pokies and betting apps. Despite new laws, dozens of top games still carry incorrect age ratings. The systems meant to protect kids aren’t keeping up.
Australia’s Gambling Crisis: A System Built for Harm
The AddictedRecovery Show
9 Jan 2026
Australia has the highest gambling losses per capita in the world - and it’s not even close. In the latest AddictedRecovery episode, Mark Kempster shares how he lost over $100,000 in a decade of gambling, trapped by apps, inducements, and relentless ads. Now recovered, Mark is an advocate for The Alliance's Voices for Gambling Reform program, helping others raise their voice for change. It’s time to end the cycle of harm and hold the system accountable.
That One Day That Changed Everything - Jacob's Story
The AddictedRecovery Show
6 Jan 2026
Jacob shares how football betting, smartphone apps, constant access, and the illusion of control slowly rewired his relationship with money, sport, and himself. This conversation unpacks gambling addiction, compulsive betting behaviour, dopamine highs, and the early warning signs many people miss until it’s too late. Jacob remembers one day where everything went right - every bet won, every instinct paid off, and the high felt unbeatable. But that moment didn’t save him. It planted something deeper.
In this episode, he takes us from his first bets at football matches, through the rise of online gambling and smartphone access, to travelling the world in an attempt to escape it all. This is an honest, first-time-told story about how gambling creeps in quietly, and why winning can sometimes be the most dangerous part.
Now, as an Advocate with The Alliance’s Voices program, Jacob is speaking out to help others understand how gambling creeps in quietly - and why winning can be the most dangerous part.
🎙️ Watch on The AddictedRecovery Show with Daniel and Jacob
Here’s to a Safer 2026 - Together We Can End Gambling Harm
The Alliance
1 Jan 2026
As we welcome 2026, The Alliance thanks every supporter, advocate and community member who stood with us this year. Your voices, donations and determination have helped shine a light on gambling harm and drive real change.
In the year ahead, we’ll keep fighting for stronger protections, safer communities and a future free from the damage caused by harmful gambling products.
Let’s make 2026 the year we tip the balance.
The Alliance for Gambling Reform extends its deepest condolences
The Alliance
15 Dec 2025
The Alliance for Gambling Reform extends its deepest condolences to the Jewish community and all victims of the tragic Bondi terror attack. Our thoughts are with you.
This is a tragedy that has shocked all Australians.
We give our heartfelt thanks to the civilian heroes who bravely came to the aid of others.
We also express our gratitude to the first responders and to those who will care for everyone harmed by this unthinkable violence.
🎄 Bells Are Ringing… Are MPs Listening?
The Alliance
12 Dec 2025
This Christmas, we're calling on MPs to finally act on gambling harm. The message is clear:
✅ End gambling ads during sports
✅ Implement the Murphy Report
✅ Protect families, not profits
Help us make sure they hear it loud and clear. Download and send our festive card straight to your MP – because nothing says “we’re watching” like it arriving on their desk.
Satirical truth bomb from Juice Media 🎯
Juice Media
8 Dec 2025
The Juice Media make Honest Government Ads – cutting political satire that exposes hypocrisy with brutal clarity. In their latest episode, they take aim at the social media ban and Australia’s inaction on gambling ads: “Think of the children, just not the children being hammered by gambling ads, which we've refused to ban.”
This line cuts to the heart of our failure to protect kids from relentless gambling advertising.
Watch the full episode from @thejuicemedia for more brilliantly savage commentary.
MPs push to ban gambling ads as pressure builds on Albanese: Gambling ad ban would pass parliament with a conscience vote
ABC News
25 Nov 2025
Labor MP Dr Mike Freelander is backing a gambling ad ban, stating: "If there was a conscience vote given in the parliament I've got no doubt we'd be able to ban gambling advertising, because I think there's a general consensus we need to act on it, that it does cause a lot of harm."
The parliamentary group Dr Freelander co-chairs will host The Alliance and other advocates in Canberra TODAY.
The Alliance’s CEO Martin Thomas exposed a national loophole: "A single NT licence allows foreign companies to operate nationwide, bypassing stronger regulatory regimes that in places in other states."
It’s time to act. Let’s reduce gambling harm.
New data confirms pokies are flooding Indigenous communities
ABC News
18 Nov 2025
New research from the Australia Institute shows areas with an Indigenous population over 10% have 50% more poker machines than other communities.
The Alliance CEO Martin Thomas said,
"Governments over many years have said how difficult it is to provide quality health care and education.
But it seems like the gambling industry has no problems getting poker machines in higher numbers than in other areas to these communities.
We would go as far as saying they're actually targeting Aboriginal communities."
This is gambling harm by design. It's time for action.
Punter's Politics: Prime Minister Albanese heads lobbying firm dressed as a sports club?
Punter's Politics
12 Nov 2025
Independent Senator David Pocock has been kicked out of the Parliamentary Sports Club after calling out its ties to the gambling lobby.
The “sports club” — which lists gambling companies like Responsible Wagering Australia among its clients - has Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as president.
Is it a sports club, as Penny Wong claims, or a lobbying operation helping delay the gambling ad ban Australians overwhelmingly support?
Russell Crowe & Joe Rogan Shocked by Australia’s Dark Gambling Trend
NT News
7 Nov 2025
🎙️ "It’s absolutely crazy the way gambling has become such a significant player." – Russell Crowe
Russell Crowe and Joe Rogan were stunned by the scale of gambling harm in Australia during Crowe’s latest podcast appearance. From generational poverty caused by his great-grandfather gambling away the family home, to confronting his own sons about gambling, Crowe exposed just how normalised gambling has become.
“I really dislike the way in Australia we have normalised it,” he said, pointing to odds being shared during national sports news.
Australia loses more per person to gambling than any country on Earth. This isn’t entertainment - it’s a crisis.
“It’s time to stop throwing gambling in people’s faces” – Mark Kempster backs ad ban
ABC Hobart Breakfast
4 Nov 2025
Mark Kempster, who hasn’t gambled in five years, is urging governments to protect the community from harmful gambling ads. Despite his recovery, the constant exposure to gambling advertising still affects him.
"This is about making it safer for people to gamble and not having it thrown in people's faces who are struggling," he told ABC Hobart.
He supports the push by Tasmanian MPs Kristie Johnston and Meg Webb to ban gambling ads in state-funded venues.
Do you care if your football club is making money out of poker machines?
ABC Mornings Melbourne
3 Nov 2025
In the past year, more than $100 million has been lost to poker machines owned by Victorian football clubs. And it’s not just the AFL, this also happens at the local level.
"The machines are built for addiction and they're predatory. So what we're really saying is: clubs, you are cornerstones of the community because football is so important in our community, you need to get out of it" – Tim Costello, Chief Advocate for The Alliance for Gambling Reform speaking on ABC Melbourne Mornings
Ban gambling ads in public venues - like we did with tobacco
The Mercury
3 Nov 2025
Independent Tasmanian MPs are pushing to ban gambling ads in all state-owned venues, calling gambling harm a public health issue - just like smoking.
Alliance advocate Mark Kempster backed the move: “Gambling advertising ruins people’s lives... I was trapped by the industry. I could not get away from it.”
Sporting venues should be safe for families - not places that normalise gambling. It’s time governments stopped profiting from harm.
Women are fed up with gambling men – and a PM who won’t stop it
Financial Review
10 Apr 2026
This piece highlights growing frustration - especially among women - at an industry “led by men behaving badly” and a government response that falls short.
“Australian women may not easily forgive a prime minister they perceive as being on the side of an industry led by men behaving badly.”
The evidence is clear: relentless promotion, weak regulation, and rising gambling harm. Australia deserves stronger action - not excuses.
Regulator or Rubber Stamp? NT Gambling Reform Falls Short
ABC News
7 Apr 2026
A bill to reform Australia’s de facto online gambling regulator is under fire, with serious concerns it won’t fix systemic failures.
The Alliance warns the proposal is “not the product of a genuine commitment to reform, but a kneejerk, reputational response to the national scrutiny generated by the ABC Four Corners investigation, Losing Streak.”
It also describes the bill as “not a serious reform agenda, but a damage-control exercise” for a regulator seen as under-resourced and unfit for purpose.
Without real accountability, gambling harm will continue.
Read our submission:
A Small Step on Gambling, A Big Gap Remains
ABC
5 Apr 2026
The government’s gambling ad reforms were quietly buried in the bottom half of a major announcement - raising serious questions about priorities and transparency.
While some restrictions may reduce children’s exposure, the reality is Australians are still losing billions every year and gambling harm continues at scale.
Incremental change won’t match the scale of harm. Australians deserve stronger action.
Parents shouldn’t be forced to “opt out” of gambling ads to protect their kids.
The Alliance
2 Apr 2026
The Alliance for Gambling Reform says the proposed system shifts responsibility onto families, instead of the gambling companies and platforms profiting from these ads.
As Tim Costello puts it: “Not a single parent would opt in to their kids seeing gambling ads.”
1000 Days. 1,000 Reasons to Act
The Alliance
24 Mar 2026
In 2023, the Australian government received a detailed plan to reduce gambling harm. 1,000 days later, not one recommendation has been acted on.
Australians are speaking up.
From protecting kids from gambling ads, to families impacted by gambling harm, to the simple belief that things should be better - the reasons for reform are everywhere.
Visit our website to read what some people are saying and to add your reason.
Join #1000days1000reasons.
Kids will be harmed if cricket ramps up its gambling sponsorship
The Alliance
19 Mar 2026
The Alliance for Gambling Reform is urging Australian cricket not to significantly boost its wagering product fees, as the major football codes have, warning it will have devastating impacts on children. The chief advocate of the Alliance, Tim Costello, said it was deeply disturbing that cricket was considering dramatically boosting its links to big gambling.
The warning follows media reports that Cricket Australia is considering options, such as boosting its wagering revenue, to help fund its revenue shortfall.
SMH also wrote on the topic: https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/sell-off-the-bbl-or-sell-out-to-sports-betting-cricket-s-huge-call-20260318-p5p01x.html
Footy’s Back - And So Are the Gambling Ads
Community Directors
11 Mar 2026
As the AFL and NRL seasons kick off, Australians are once again facing a flood of gambling advertising across TV, social media and stadiums. 📺📱🏟️
The Alliance CEO Martin Thomas warns the saturation is harming young people and normalising gambling for kids.
“I think we are being slowly cooked alive by gambling ads,” Martin Thomas told the Community Advocate.
Research shows hundreds of thousands of teenagers are already gambling each year, with online platforms targeting young audiences and making it harder to walk away.
Australians overwhelmingly support stronger restrictions. It’s time for action.
$871,000 Stolen - And the Bookmaker Keeps the Proceeds of Crime
A Current Affair
3 Mar 2026
Kym Cavigan’s accountant stole $871,000 of her life savings and gambled it with Sportsbet.
Kym does not hate the man who took her money. She believes he was also harmed by an industry that uses VIP agents, bonus bets and incentives to keep people gambling.
The accountant, who is now in jail, is supporting Kym as she takes Sportsbet to court to recover the stolen money.
Alliance Chief Advocate Tim Costello says: “Proceeds of crime should be clawed back from the ultimate company who's got those proceeds, which is the sports betting companies, That's what we do with other proceeds of crime.”
Building Healthier Sporting Clubs - Tackling Gambling Harm Head On
The Alliance
20 Feb 2026
Community sport should be about teamwork, health and belonging - not gambling harm.
On 23 February 2026 in West Footscray, Reverend Tim Costello AO and Alliance Voices Advocate Mark Kempster will join the Building Healthier Sporting Clubs Forum to share practical tools to prevent gambling and alcohol harm in local clubs.
From recognising what gambling harm looks like, to exploring healthier sponsorship and funding options, this forum empowers clubs to protect their players, families and communities.
SBS Lets Viewers Opt Out of Gambling Ads
SBS
10 Feb 2026
SBS On Demand has finalised a world-first feature allowing viewers to opt out of gambling advertising, alongside alcohol and fast food promotions. It marks a significant step in giving Australians more control over the ads they see.
SBS Acting Managing Director Jane Palfreyman said: “Our opt out feature has moved from a pioneering trial to a permanent and seamless part of the SBS On Demand experience – because Australians told us they want more control over the ads they see.”
Giving audiences the power to block gambling ads helps reduce exposure to gambling harm. But stronger national protections are still urgently needed.
Labor MPs demand urgent action on gambling ad ban
The Guardian
2 Feb 2026
Frustration is growing inside Labor as MPs push Minister Anika Wells to act on gambling ad reforms. Despite public support and 949 days since the Murphy Report, there's still no government response. Labor MP Jerome Laxale says gambling reform is “unfinished business for this government” and adds: “We owe it to the communities impacted every day by gambling harm to keep this issue on the national agenda and deliver real change.”
It's time for leadership, not delay.
A Time for Bravery - What Happens When Australians Choose Courage? We’re living through a moment that demands bold action - against inequality, fossil fuel dependence and deepening threats to democracy. A powerful new book, A Time for Bravery, edited by Anna Chang and Alice Grundy, asks: what does courage look like in Australia today?
The Australia Institute
26 Jan 2026
With contributions from politicians, advocates, academics and more - including The Alliance’s own Tim Costello AO - this collection reminds us that change begins with brave choices.
Tim writes: “It takes bravery to stand up to a ruthless and predatory multi-billion industry, particularly when it is backed by media and politicians. It takes bravery because so many are against you.”
“The machines are the vampires” - Carol’s fight to reclaim her life
Michael West Media
21 Jan 2026
After 18 years of gambling harm from poker machines, Carol, a Queensland mother and Royal Australian Air Force veteran, found herself drowning in debt and shame. In her journal, she wrote: “I feel like I am a vampire pulling the blood, the money, from the machines. But then I realised – the machines are the vampires pulling the blood from me.”
Like Carol, too many Australians are struggling in silence. Shame stops people from seeking help, even as debt mounts and lives unravel.
We must break the stigma and push for stronger protections from gambling harm.
Gambling ads cause harm – the evidence is in (and has been for ages)
The Alliance
7 Jan 2026
Research shows a direct link between gambling ads and harm. When people opted out of marketing:
📉 23% fewer bets
💸 39% less money spent
🛑 67% fewer short-term harms
We don’t need more research - we need action. Donate now to help end gambling ads and reduce harm.
Record-Breaking Pokies Losses in NSW: $2.45 Billion in Just 3 Months
news.com.au
5 Jan 2026
NSW has hit a devastating new record - $2.45 billion lost to poker machines in just 92 days. The hardest-hit areas? Communities already facing housing stress and financial hardship, like Canterbury-Bankstown, Fairfield and Cumberland.
Rev Stu Cameron says plainly: “The evidence is crystal clear - shutting poker machines down for longer saves lives, protects families, and reduces harm.”
This is not a small issue - it's a public health crisis. It's time for real political courage.
Thousands join class action against Sportsbet over in-play gambling
Maurice Blackburn
30 Dec 2025
A major class action against Sportsbet is gaining momentum, with thousands of Australians automatically included unless they opt out by 13 February. The case alleges Sportsbet breached the Interactive Gambling Act by using "fast codes" to allow illegal in-play gambling online.
Maurice Blackburn is leading the action, seeking refunds on all live bets placed via fast codes between 2018 and 2024.
This is a landmark moment in the fight against illegal online gambling practices. Let’s hold gambling giants accountable.
Let’s Give Families a Future Free from Gambling Harm
The Alliance
23 Dec 2025
Australia’s gambling losses are soaring - and kids are growing up thinking it’s normal.
This Christmas, help us shift the story. Every donation strengthens the fight to protect families and create a future where kids grow up free from gambling harm.
Support The Alliance today - your gift can change lives.
Of course Tabcorp’s CEO defends gambling in sport
Financial Review
14 Dec 2025
Of course Gillon McLachlan thinks gambling is “complementary to the game” - he runs Tabcorp. He admits there’s “too much advertising” but still defends the industry’s grip on sport.
This is exactly how gambling harm is normalised - by wrapping it in community funding and corporate spin. The truth? Gambling ads flood our screens, and the damage is real. Families, fans, and communities deserve better.
Sport should inspire, not push gambling. It’s time to break this toxic relationship.
Landmark Lawsuit Challenges Gambling Industry Over Proceeds of Crime
ABC News
11 Dec 2025
A powerful legal case could finally hold gambling companies accountable for profiting from stolen money. Gavin Fineff, jailed for defrauding clients to fund his gambling, is suing Sportsbet, Tabcorp and Entain to recover millions lost through their platforms. If successful, the money would go to his victims - not him.
“This is a landmark case. If this is successful, it will change the gambling industry in Australia a great deal.” – Geoffrey Watson SC
Independent MP Andrew Wilkie has long pushed for laws forcing gambling companies to return proceeds of crime. “It beggars belief that the gambling companies believe they have a moral right to keep stolen money.”
Gambling companies must not profit from crime.
Have Your Say - Help Tackle Gambling Harm
The Alliance
3 Dec 2025
Are you 12 to 18 and living in Victoria? We want your voice in the fight to stop gambling harm.
The Alliance is gathering anonymous feedback from young people to understand how gambling and its marketing affects you and your peers.
Whether you’ve gambled, know someone who has, or just want to make a difference - your input matters.
Take the short survey today and help build a safer future, free from gambling harm.
Crown Caught Letting Excluded Person Gamble for 15 Hours
9 News
24 Nov 2025
Crown Melbourne has been hit with a $100,000 fine after a person who was previously excluded from the casino managed to gamble there for nearly 15 hours straight.
The person was initially excluded from the casino in August last year due to welfare concerns, but just two months later they gambled continuously for 14 hours and 40 minutes without taking a break, without interacting with staff, or without being identified by the casino's security systems in place to stop excluded gamblers from being at the venue.
Join the Fight Against Gambling Harm in Ballarat
CAFS & Sports Central
13 Nov 2025
Reverend Dr Tim Costello is calling on all community leaders and changemakers to take a stand against gambling harm.
Cafs Ballarat are hosting a free Gambling Harm Awareness Event to spark real change. Hear from lived-experience speakers, connect with local experts, and help shape future harm reduction strategies.
🗓 Wednesday 19 November
🕙 10:00am
📍 Mercure Ballarat, 613 Main Road, Golden Point
Free webinar: the changing face of gambling and its impact on youth
The Kids Research Institute Australia
10 Nov 2025
Mark Kempster will share his lived experience at the upcoming webinar, Beating the Odds: Problem Gambling in Our Youth, hosted by The Kids Research Institute Australia.
The event explores the changing face of gambling in Australia and the steps being taken to help young people overcome gambling harm.
Attendees will gain insights from research, policy, and lived experience, and have the opportunity to join a Q&A with the panel.
Speakers include:
🎙️ MP Kate Chaney
🎙️ Dr Vincent Mancini
🎙️ Dr Krista Fisher
🎙️ Mark Kempster
📅 11 November
Billionaire's Pokies Pub Fined for Encouraging Gambling Harm
Sydney Morning Herald
6 Nov 2025
One of NSW’s most profitable gambling venues - billionaire Sam Arnaout’s Wentworth Hotel - has been fined for repeatedly allowing patrons to withdraw cash on credit, a clear breach of the law.
ILGA found $221,000 was withdrawn over 7 months, including $80,000 during high-risk late-night hours.
“Providing patrons with ready access to cash from a credit card account significantly increases the risks of patrons gambling beyond their means,” ILGA stated.
Fines are not enough. These venues prioritise profit over people’s wellbeing. It’s time for real reform to stop gambling harm.
10 Years of Gambling Harm: A Powerful Story
Alliance Voices Advocate Mark Kempster shares his compelling journey through 10 years of gambling harm in this must-watch conversation.
Local and Live
4 Nov 2025
Mark discusses the dark side of gambling marketing, its impact on the music industry, and the troubling lack of genuine support from politicians for communities affected by gambling harm.
His story sheds light on the real consequences Australians face and why we need stronger action to protect people from gambling harm.
The Alliance continues to fight for reform and support for those affected.
Gambling is grooming our kids. And it's working.
Barefoot Investor
3 Nov 2025
Scott Pape, author of The Barefoot Investor, shared a disturbing story: two teenage boys, just 16 and 18, had opened multiple gambling accounts and lost thousands. One didn’t even need fake ID - just a name, birthdate, and a phone number.
"One in three kids aged 12–17 are already gambling," he wrote. The industry calls it 'education' - but it looks more like recruitment.
Pape doesn’t mince words: "Gambling is for losers." While gambling giants target kids with free bets and TikTok ads, our politicians look away. If a company lets a child gamble, it should be shut down.
AFL & grassroots clubs slammed for $110M pokies profit
ABC News
3 Nov 2025
Victorian football clubs made $110.4 million from pokies in 2024/25 - while gambling harm continues to devastate lives.
Alliance CEO Tim Costello said:
"These footy clubs really have trashed their social licence... "It's complete hypocrisy, because we now know the extraordinary social damage of pokies.:
Alliance Voices Advocate Mark S added:
"I am disappointed to see that the AFL team that I support still has a connection to the pokies."
It's time for all clubs to put people before profit.
Two Teachers Making a Difference on Gambling Harm
Gambling Education Australia
9 Apr 2026
Haydn and Matthew are on the front line in schools, delivering powerful seminars to help young people understand and prevent gambling harm.
As Health Education teachers, they’re passionate about early intervention and equipping students with practical strategies - reflected in feedback showing 80% leave feeling better prepared to protect themselves.
“This is a powerful and much needed conversation. Education like this plays a vital role in helping young people be aware of the predatory nature of gambling. I’d also like to see meaningful reform in this area to reduce the burden placed on them.” said one supporter.
By also engaging parents and sharing their knowledge, their work is building a stronger, informed community ready to push back against harm.
Book a session or find out more.
A new NT bill to reform Australia’s de facto online gambling regulator is facing strong criticism
ABC
7 Apr 2026
Despite overseeing 52 online gambling companies, the regulator has no full-time staff and has faced allegations of conflicts of interest and delayed complaint handling.
The Alliance warns the reform falls short, stating: "the … bill reads not as a serious reform agenda, but as a damage-control exercise - introduced after national scrutiny exposed a regulator that is part-time, under-resourced and structurally unsuited to the role it performs."
Stronger, independent oversight is urgently needed to reduce gambling harm.
Limited reform, lasting harm
BBC
2 Apr 2026
Australia’s recently announced gambling ad reforms are a step forward - but they don’t go far enough to prevent gambling harm.
On BBC World News, The Alliance CEO Martin Thomas made the case clearly: "There shouldn't really be any advertised gambling advertising on television or online. The parliamentary inquiry which looked at this almost three years ago, suggested a full ad ban in the same way that cigarette advertising is banned. It's a legal product like gambling, but we should do everything we can to protect kids and to limit its marketing. And that's the case here. I mean, no one's suggesting in Australia that we should have three cigarette ads every hour, so we shouldn't have three gambling ads every hour."
Despite new limits, gambling ads will still appear frequently - continuing to expose children and normalise harm.
We cannot celebrate tinkering
The Guardian
30 Mar 2026
In this Guardian opinion piece, David Pocock argues Labor’s gambling reform response “falls tragically short” — warning it won’t reverse the normalisation of gambling, particularly among young people.
With Australia facing the highest per capita gambling losses in the world, Pocock says partial restrictions ignore the evidence: without a full ban on advertising, harm will continue.
He urges the public to write to their local MPs and the Prime Minister — to demand stronger, evidence-based reform.
The Hidden Harms: Gambling and Family Violence Are Linked
GambleAware
20 Mar 2026
New NSW research reveals a concerning link between gambling machines and family and domestic violence. As machine numbers increase, so do reported incidents - with evidence suggesting this relationship is causal.
Hotspots include parts of Sydney and northern NSW, while service providers warn support systems are not equipped to handle the overlap between gambling harm and violence.
Integrated services, better training, and stronger policy responses are urgently needed to protect families.
Online Keno Loophole Fuels Gambling Harm
Capital Brief
19 Mar 2026
A billion-dollar online keno market is slipping through regulatory cracks, allowing Australians to gamble up to $20,000 an hour using credit cards. Nearly 1,000 days after the Murphy inquiry, reform delays are leaving people exposed while advertising and access expand unchecked.
The report warns: “The ban does not capture keno-type lotteries, which, alongside other lottery services, are not included in the definition of ‘wagering services’ (betting on racing and sports) under the IGA”.
This loophole is accelerating gambling harm while governments stall. Strong national action is urgently needed.
4 in 5 Australians Want an Ad Break from Harmful Gambling Ads
The Alliance
4 Mar 2026
New polling shows overwhelming for curbing gambling, alcohol and unhealthy food advertising. More than 130 organisations are calling on the Federal Government to introduce a Harmful Products Marketing Act to protect children from relentless exposure.
Alliance CEO Martin Thomas warns:
“Gambling losses in Australia, which are the world’s highest per capita, not only have a financial impact but unleash immense social harm each day across our communities.”
It is time to put community wellbeing before industry profits and give Australians a real ad break. Help us keep pushing for reform.
“We are literally saturated. Sadly, gambling companies now even own our kids."
ABC RN
26 Feb 2026
"Eighty per cent of kids know the odds, jingles, and logos of sports betting companies and can identify them. In fact, 900,000 under-18s gambled last year - nearly one in three. More kids were betting on sport than played soccer and basketball combined.”
On RN Breakfast, The Alliance’s Chief Advocate Tim Costello laid bare the scale of gambling harm in Australia.
This is not accidental. It’s the result of relentless promotion and political inaction.
We need urgent reform to protect children and reduce gambling harm.
Support The Alliance’s fight for change. Tell your MP what you think:
Fast Codes, Fast Losses - Online Gambling Under Fire
ABC 7.30
16 Feb 2026
Australians lose nearly $30 billion a year to gambling - with billions flowing through online live gambling. Now, class actions against Sportsbet and Entain allege that "fast code" in-play gambling may breach the Interactive Gambling Act.
Alliance Voices Advocate Mark Kempster warns: "It's much harder to try and control yourself when you're watching something and you have the adrenaline of a live game in front of you or a live event in front of you to bet on." Watch it on #ABCIVIEW (Monday 16/2/2026).
A new form of gambling harm is rising in America - Australia must keep it out
Crikey
6 Feb 2026
A new form of gambling harm is emerging through so-called ‘prediction markets’ that let people gamble on elections, wars, disasters and sporting events using crypto. In the United States, these platforms are booming under lighter regulation and are increasingly mainstream.
Australia has taken an important stand by ruling these services are gambling and blocking access. This decision helps protect Australians from another dangerous and fast-growing form of gambling harm.
We must stay vigilant to keep these platforms out of Australia. Support strong regulation and public interest reform.
The company was told a gambler was banned. A new account was opened minutes later.
Sydney Morning Herald
29 Jan 2026
Picklebet let a self-excluded person open a new gambling account just two minutes after being told they were banned. It’s one of six companies, including Tabcorp, found by ACMA to have breached self-exclusion rules.
ACMA’s Carolyn Lidgerwood said: “Self-exclusion only works if wagering providers follow the rules.”
This isn’t a system flaw - it’s a failure of regulation. People experiencing gambling harm deserve real protection.
We need tougher legislation - not more industry excuses.
Let’s make pokies-free venues the norm, not the exception
ABC News
23 Jan 2026
When Mitch Crum removed the last of five pokies from his Sydney pub, he expected relief - instead, he faced months of red tape, confusion and unexpected costs.
Voices Advocate Mark wishes it were easier, and is calling out the broader impact of pokies in our communities: "When I organise a social outing, I look for a venue without poker machines. Why should my friends, family, or their kids be exposed to a product designed to exploit them?
Every time a child sees gambling normalised, the trap is set a little deeper - and that's exactly what these companies are counting on. We wouldn't let our kids watch us smoke. Why do we let them watch us gamble?" It's time to support venues that want out.
Gambling Took Everything - Recovery Brought Back Hope
The AddictedRecovery Show
13 Jan 2026
"I like myself." Jacob’s powerful words mark the turning point in a story of gambling harm. In Part 2 of The AddictedRecovery Show, Jacob shares how gambling took everything - his money, his relationships, his identity - and how recovery helped him slowly rebuild his life and self-worth.
His story shows life does get better. Jacob is now an advocate with The Alliance Voices for Gambling Reform.
Countries are outlawing online gambling ads. Meta is selling them anyway
Rest of World
6 Jan 2026
A Rest of World analysis uncovered that Meta is ignoring gambling ad bans in at least 13 countries, including India, Malaysia and the Philippines. In December alone, 140 illegal ads ran in India, while nearly 1,000 appeared in other countries with gambling ad restrictions.
Despite claiming to ban such content in 18 “unsupported markets,” Meta continues to profit.
Malaysia’s Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil put it plainly: “If a gambling ad is paid for using a credit card, and Facebook knows this content is illegal in Malaysia, they should block the credit card account used. But Facebook has refused to do so.”
Tasmania's Gambling Report: Buried Over a Long Weekend
The Mercury
1 Feb 2026
Our advocate Mark Kempster has penned a powerful piece on the Tasmanian Government's handling of the Deloitte report into poker machines - released quietly before the Australia Day long weekend, with its recommendations ignored.
The report backed the "gold standard" in harm reduction: cashless pre-commitment cards that could cut gambling harm by a third and boost the economy by $230 million. So why the silence?
As Mark writes: "The gambling industry is a silent, powerful and insidious influence on our parliaments across Australia. They routinely donate more to the major political parties, they employ more lobbyists, and they 'entertain' more politicians than any other sector."
With Australians losing $32 billion to gambling every year and 600,000 underage teenagers now gambling, the stakes couldn't be higher.
Mark's message is clear: "The only way that things will change in Tasmania and across Australia is if voters speak out and tell their MPs that they are sick of the losses and social harm gambling is doing in their communities."
Australians are united - it’s time to act
The Alliance
27 Dec 2025
While the gambling industry floods the airwaves this holiday season, 76% of Australians want a full ban on gambling ads.
The message is clear: we’ve had enough.
Help turn public support into political action. Donate today and power the campaign to end gambling ads for good.
Public Health Crisis, Political Inaction: Gambling Reform Hits Resistance
LSJ Online
17 Dec 2025
Despite urgent calls for reform, the gambling industry’s influence is blocking real change. Australians now lose $32 billion annually to legal gambling - the highest per capita in the world.
Alliance CEO Martin Thomas said the Northern Territory has become a “regulatory haven” for foreign-owned bookmakers with “low tax, light oversight and quick approvals”.
He told The Guardian, “Australians lose more to gambling than any other nation in the world because we have a grossly inadequate regulatory regime in which the gambling industry has been allowed to operate virtually unchecked, causing devastation to individuals, families and communities.”
Gambling Harm Hits Hard in Melbourne’s West
Star Weekly
12 Dec 2025
Communities like Brimbank are losing millions to poker machines each year - over $175 million in 2024-25 alone. For many families, gambling harm leads to housing instability, financial stress, and emotional trauma.
Tim Costello, Chief Advocate at The Alliance, says:
"You give people the right to still gamble and give them a proven method to safeguard them because we know once in front of the machine you will lose all track of time."
It’s time for real reform - including mandatory cashless cards with binding loss limits.
🎄 Ho ho hold the gambling ads! 🎄
The Alliance
10 Dec 2025
This Christmas, The Alliance is calling on Aussies to take action against gambling harm. Our festive campaign urges you to send a cheeky card with a serious message to your MP – reminding them that gambling ads belong on Santa’s Naughty List, not in family spaces.
Because every family deserves joy at Christmas, not gambling harm.
Download a card. Send it today. Let your MP know: End gambling ads.
Who wins with this gambling ad bonanza? Not Australia
Canberra Times
27 Nov 2025
Every time the ball reaches the boundary this Ashes series, cricket lovers will be exposed to advertising from foreign-owned bookie bet365 a gold sponsor of Cricket Australia.Gambling advertising from bet365, Ladbrokes, Neds and Unibet has become ubiquitous. In fact there are a million gambling ads on our screens each year. And it is having an impact, especially on our kids.
But how much do we really know about how these foreign bookies operate?A staggering 80-90 per cent of online betting turnover now flows to foreign-owned companies. These household names are embedded into sport, saturated across our screens, and woven into the digital habits of millions of Australians. And their influence far outstrips the level of visibility we have into their finances and practices.
The result is a market where profits quietly leave the country, but harm stays here.
Dylan Was Gambling at School – This Is Why Reform Can’t Wait
Tripple J Hack
20 Nov 2025
Dylan is one of our Voices for Gambling Reform, sharing his powerful story to inspire change. Gambling cost Dylan a lot, in terms of both money and opportunities.
Now, he has quit gambling, and he's documenting the journey on TikTok and Instagram.
In this longer interview cut for the hack podcast, Dylan talks with Dave about the road that got him here.
He describes the clarifying moment when he placed his last bet, the daily battle to keep going in a world where gambling ads are everywhere, and what it's like to do it all so publicly
We must protect our kids – ban gambling ads, ban inducements, and implement the Murphy Report in full.
Follow Dylan’s journey on Instagram or TikTok at @nomorebets.au
Listen to Dylan speak up on ABC's Tripple J Hack:
Silence in the ranks? Labor MPs gagged on gambling reform
7am Podcast
13 Nov 2025
A powerful Four Corners report has exposed the devastating impact of online gambling - and the systems failing to stop it. Now, Independent MP Andrew Wilkie is urging PM Albanese to allow a free vote on banning gambling ads, claiming there’s broad support across Parliament.
But Labor MPs who back reform are reportedly staying silent - too afraid to speak out. It’s been two-and-a-half years since the landmark Murphy report, yet none of its key recommendations have been implemented.
The question is: why the delay - and who is being silenced?
Protecting Young People from Gambling Harm: Have Your Say
The Alliance
10 Nov 2025
How is gambling advertising affecting young Victorians? The Alliance is running workshops to find out - and we want to hear from:
• Young people aged 12-18
• Parents of teens
• Teachers, coaches, youth workers and others who support young people
Your insights will help shape future education and prevention strategies.
Gambling regulator under fire
ABC News
6 Nov 2025
Australia's de facto online gambling watchdog has paused accepting gifts from gambling companies while a new code of conduct is drafted.
The NT Racing and Wagering Commission (NTRWC) came under scrutiny after the ABC reported in April that Chair Alastair Shields had accepted corporate hospitality, including tickets to the Darwin Cup, from gambling companies he regulates.
Despite growing concerns over conflicts of interest, the NTRWC has confirmed it will not ban racehorse ownership by commissioners, though conflicts must be declared and managed.
A regulator this close to the gambling industry cannot be trusted to act in the public interest.
Poker machines ‘saturate’ communities with high Indigenous populations, new research shows
AGR
3 Nov 2025
Indigenous communities across Australia are being targeted by the gambling industry meaning that while access to good quality essential services like healthcare and education is scarce, there is an oversupply of poker machines.
Gambling Industry Targeting Aussie Kids—600,000 Teens Drawn In
The Nightly
3 Nov 2025
One in three Australian kids aged 12–17 are gambling—losing over $18 million a year. The Alliance's CEO Martin Thomas warns, “There is evidence that the gambling industry targets kids as young as 14 years old through social media... It is both alarming and tragic to understand that the number of teenagers gambling under the legal age would fill the MCG six times over.”
The Alliance is demanding political leaders commit to a ban on gambling ads and enact all Murphy Inquiry recommendations.