IN THE NEWS

Despite offering a gambling “opt-out” toggle, the AFL continues to expose users to Sportsbet ads—prompting criticism that the feature is “tokenistic.” Researcher Dr Charles Livingstone slammed the toggle as “hard to find” and ineffective, while Adam Keily stated: “It’s completely disingenuous from the AFL to say that they're going to hide gambling ads from kids and vulnerable people, and then not do it.”

It’s time the AFL put people before profits—not just optics.

Australia lost $32 billion to gambling in just one year—more than the federal government spent on aged care. That’s $1500 for every adult. Yet this staggering figure was missing from the election debate. “If Labor is serious about improving economic prosperity for all Australians, reducing gambling losses has to be a part of any economic plan it puts forward.”

Research shows that gambling harm hits lower-income families hardest, especially as the cost of living surges. Alarmingly, nearly one in three children aged 12–17 is already gambling—illegally—contributing to $231 million in annual youth losses. Meanwhile, pokies outnumber ATMs, post boxes, and public toilets.

The Murphy inquiry’s call to ban gambling ads was shelved. Prime Minister Albanese promised to “do more.” It’s time he did.

Almost 1 in 3 Aussie teens aged 12–17 gambled last year, spending $231 million. Gambling now outranks soccer, cricket and basketball among young Australians.

We lost $31.5 billion to gambling in 2022–23—more than all of Las Vegas. Yet despite the harm, major parties ignore calls to ban gambling ads, as recommended by the bipartisan Murphy Review.

Why? The gambling industry has poured $80 million into political donations.

This election day, ask yourself: is your local candidate protecting our kids and supporting real gambling reform?

With the election looming, the federal government is under fire for ignoring vital gambling reform championed by the late Peta Murphy—reform backed by Australians and agreed upon across party lines.

Alliance CEO Martin Thomas condemned the inaction:
“We are incredibly disappointed, as the Murphy Report was produced by one of their own. Peta Murphy courageously campaigned even in her last days with cancer. The committee handed down its report which was unanimous across all committee members across all parties. We know from polling that 76 percent of Australians want a full gambling ad ban, so it seems inconceivable that the government not only hasn’t moved on it but hasn’t officially responded to that report.”

The Murphy Report called for a phased ad ban, tougher online gambling rules, and a national regulator. Instead, political silence reigns—while gambling lobbyists operate unchecked behind closed doors.

Murphy’s legacy demands action. Ask if your local candidate supports gambling reform this election.

We're proud to welcome the Rural City of Wangaratta as a Leadership Council!

Alliance Leadership Councils are key partners in our pursuit of an Australia free from gambling harm - taking action, influencing policy, and standing up to industry power.

While three-quarters of Australians supported a gambling ad ban, politicians accepted $245,000 worth of sports tickets—many from leagues opposing the ban. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese received $29,000 in freebies, mostly for his favourite NRL team. Independent Senator David Pocock called it out: "the level of soft diplomacy revealed by this analysis of declared gifts to politicians is deeply concerning."

The ban is now shelved—proof of the gambling industry's deep influence in Australian sport and politics.

This Easter, some children may miss out on the joy of an egg hunt—not because of rising electricity bills, but because gambling losses are draining their families’ budgets even faster. As household finances buckle under the pressure, gambling is becoming a more costly burden than keeping the lights on.

Support The Alliance in tackling gambling harm and protecting Aussie families. Donate today.

Over 600,000 Aussie kids are already gambling—losing $18 million each year. They’re being deliberately groomed online and through sport. “I think finally there's evidence that the gambling companies are particularly grooming young people through their social media feeds – young people as young as 14 – to encourage them to download gambling apps,” says The Alliance CEO Martin Thomas.

He draws a powerful comparison: “Just like with tobacco, which is a legal but harmful product, we made the decision… to make it very hard, if not impossible, to advertise it.” That led to huge drops in smoking rates. Now it’s time to do the same with gambling.

"Spending more time in a bet than watching the game? Not worth it." 🎯

Alarmingly, Australian teenagers are now more likely to gamble than to play any of the most popular sports for their age group. Annual gambling expenditure among teens is estimated at $231 million—an average of $86.72 per teenager per year, according to new research from The Australia Institute.

A compelling video from GambleAware NSW and the Sydney Swans underscores the genuine joys of footy—mateship, excitement, and community—without the shadow of gambling. Let’s focus on what truly makes the game worth it.​

As a young person, Ed experienced gambling harm. Now, as an Alliance Voices Advocate, he's speaking out to stop it from happening to others. His story is a powerful reminder that gambling harm often starts young.

Shocking new findings show that almost one in three (30%) 12-17 year olds gamble and this spirals to almost half (46%) of 18-19 year olds who are betting $213 million every year.

$1,555 per person each year. Our kids see gambling ads every time they watch sport.
We need representatives who will stand up to powerful gambling lobbyists and put our families before industry profits.

Australia is in the grip of a gambling epidemic, losing $31.5 billion every year—more than the Federal Government spends on aged care. These losses hit households harder than power bills and are rising faster than housing costs.

This crisis isn’t because Australians love to gamble more than anyone else—it’s because of weak regulation and a tidal wave of gambling advertising. Over one million gambling ads flood our screens each year, many reaching children. It’s outrageous and dangerous.

As we head to the polls on May 3, The Alliance is demanding that all candidates commit to the 31 recommendations of the Murphy Report, including a full ban on gambling ads and inducements.

We have a once-in-a-generation chance to make real change. Let’s make gambling harm—and its devastating cost-of-living impact—a key election issue.

Support for banning gambling advertising is widespread, according to new polling from The Australia Institute:

🎯 Three in four Australians (76%) support a total ban on gambling ads phased in over three years. This is an increase on the 72% reported in a similar poll conducted by Redbridge late in 2024.

📱 Four in five (81%) Australians support banning gambling ads on social media and online.

📺 Nearly nine in ten (87%) support banning gambling ads during prime time TV hours for family and children.

⚽ More than three quarters (79%) support banning gambling ads in sporting stadiums and on players’ uniforms.

📉 More than three quarters (78%) agree that Australian government policies should aim to reduce the amount people spend on gambling.

🧒 Four in five Australians (80%) agree that children are exposed to too many gambling ads.

A new report by The Alliance and Wesley Mission reveals Australians lose $31.5 billion to gambling every year—more than the federal government spends on aged care. That’s a bigger hit to household budgets than electricity and gas bills combined.

Alliance CEO Martin Thomas warns, “For every person who gambles, six other people are affected.” With families already struggling, gambling losses are worsening the cost-of-living crisis. Yet, despite overwhelming public support, the government has stalled on gambling reform, bowing to lobbying pressure from major sporting codes.

Banning gambling ads is a simple, non-inflationary solution that would bring real relief. It’s time for political leaders to act in the public’s interest—not the gambling industry’s.

A government adviser told gambling reform advocates that gambling isn’t as serious a public health issue as smoking. Alliance advocate Mark Kempster pushed back: “It only takes one bet to get addicted to something, so to not see it in that light was really disappointing to hear.”

Despite overwhelming public and bipartisan support, the government has stalled on the You Win Some, You Lose More report for 18 months. “We have a report sitting on a desk for the last 18 months, which gives you easy guidelines and outlines of how to rein in this industry and how to protect vulnerable Australians, which has not been taken seriously at the moment,” Kempster said.

"In the last decade, the nature of gambling in Australia has changed profoundly and its impact on family household budgets is now greater than at any other time.

"New research by Equity Economics shows that spiralling gambling losses are now a bigger drain on the household budget than the cost of electricity and gas while gambling losses are growing at a rate faster than the cost of housing.

"The research also revealed that Australia's staggering annual gambling losses eclipses that spent by the federal government on aged care and almost rivals the expenditure for the NDIS.

"There is still time for both Labor and the Coalition to commit to a sensible response to the Murphy parliamentary inquiry report and its recommendations - to ban all gambling advertising, ban inducements and set up a national gambling regulator."

- Alliance CEO Martin Thomas

Leaked documents reveal the AFL has lost control over online gambling oversight, struggling to detect if players, coaches, and staff are using insider info to manipulate gambling markets. The league admits to “unprecedented” integrity risks but remains deeply tied to gambling revenue—even demanding a bigger share from bookmakers. Meanwhile, fans and public health experts condemn the AFL’s silence on gambling harm.

Imagine picking up your local paper and instead of news, the entire front page is a gambling ad. That’s exactly what happened with The Examiner on February 25th—an entire cover promoting Bet365 and urging people to gamble on the Launceston Cup.

Mark Kempster called it out: "I've never seen anything like it to be on the front page of such a large state newspaper, I am actually dumbfounded by it."

Our media should inform, not advertise harmful products. This is gambling industry influence at its worst—normalising gambling and pushing harm in plain sight. It’s time to demand better.

Donate today to support real change!

On Thursday the 13th of February, six Ladbrokes ads aired between 7PM and 8:30PM during Home and Away—a show with a large teenage audience. One of our Voices for Gambling Reform, who counted the ads, asked: "Why are we normalising gambling ads for young people?"

Current ACMA rules allow this because Home and Away is rated PG—but so is Frozen. Let that sink in. Just because it’s legal doesn’t make it right. This is why restrictions are not enough we need to #EndGamblingAds. It’s time to put community wellbeing ahead of gambling profits.

Queenslanders are losing a staggering $3.5 billion a year to poker machines—over $9.5 million every single day. These losses have jumped 46% since the pandemic, hitting communities hard, especially in areas with lower household incomes like Logan, Lockyer Valley, and Ipswich.

"The gambling industry is predatory. It targets low-income households in many cases, people who can least afford to lose this money," says The Alliance’s Martin Thomas. With 41,000 pokies in pubs and clubs across the state—not including casinos—the industry is raking in billions while families suffer.

The solution? Mandatory cashless gambling cards. These cards, already being introduced in Victoria, allow people to set limits before they play—preventing devastating losses before they happen. NSW is also considering similar reforms after a trial. Queensland must act now to protect vulnerable communities.

A UK high court has ruled that Sky Betting & Gaming unlawfully targeted a vulnerable gambler with relentless marketing, despite clear signs of gambling harm. Sam, who lost 10 years of his life to gambling, was bombarded with 1,389 promotional emails, even after trying to quit. The company used sophisticated profiling to predict his behaviour—but not to protect him.

Lawyer Ravi Naik called the ruling a “death knell for this kind of pernicious activity: tick-boxes, mass surveillance and data sharing, all unbeknownst to the user.”

This exposes how gambling companies exploit people for profit. Regulators must act now to stop these harmful practices.

Gambling companies have been secretly sharing user data with Facebook’s parent, Meta—without consent. This data is used to profile people as gamblers and bombard them with gambling ads, violating data protection laws.

Data privacy expert Wolfie Christl says: “Sharing data with Meta is highly problematic, even with consent, but doing so without explicit informed consent shows a blatant disregard for the law.”

Gambling companies are preying on young men, turning sports into a tool for profit. Mobile betting apps—designed like poker machines—flood our screens, promising “easy wins” but delivering gambling harm instead. Research shows 16.3% of young sports bettors develop gambling addiction, and bankruptcies are rising where betting is legal. With dopamine-driven instant bets on every play, gambling isn’t about skill—it’s a trap.

It’s time to call this what it is: a public health crisis. We need stronger regulations and an end to gambling’s grip on sport.

After the release of the latest donation figures this week through the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) Transparency Register, the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) and Alliance for Gambling Reform (AGR) jointly called for alcohol and gambling companies to be excluded from making political donations.

CEO of AGR Martin Thomas said, “The evidence shows these donations spike at times when reforms are being considered. It is a blatant attempt to undermine reform and in doing so it is an attack on our democratic process.

“With political willpower it is absolutely possible for gambling and alcohol companies to be excluded from donating – we saw it with tobacco, now let’s see it for these other industries that are causing significant health and social harms in our communities," He said.

Media Release:

Patrons lost nearly $30 million to pokies in Port Phillip last year, including $2.1 million at the Bleakhouse Hotel—featured in a council-funded Broadsheet promotion. Promoting pokies venues undermines community health and wellbeing.

We urge the City of Port Phillip to follow the lead of other Victorian councils and recognise pokies as a harmful product. Councils have a vital role in protecting community health, and pokies venues should never be promoted.

If you live in Port Phillip and you’re concerned about the effects of pokies venues, we encourage you to write to the Mayor and Councillors.

Labor has reportedly shelved its plan to curb gambling ads until after the election, bowing to pressure from media, betting giants, and major sports leagues. This delay means more relentless gambling ads, more harm, and more lives at risk.

Alliance Voices Advocate Mark Kempster said: "This report in the SMH shows the Prime Minster is beholden to Peter V'landys and the gambling lobby in this country. He has turned his back on every vulnerable Australian like myself who are having their lives ruined on a daily basis by this insidious, predatory industry. He has also turned his back on former Labor MP Peta Murphy, who he promised to 'honour her legacy'. He hasn't even come close to doing that and should be ashamed."

Media Release: https://www.agr.org.au/agr-media-releases/no-action-is-the-worst-response-of-all-to-gambling-harm-

Join The Alliance in our mission to prevent and reduce gambling harm in Australia! We're seeking a part-time Engagement Support Officer to play a vital role in strengthening our partnerships, supporting our Leadership Councils, and growing our advocacy efforts.

📍 Location: Work from home or hybrid
📆 Closing Date: 24 Feb, 2025
💡 Role Highlights:

🔹 Engage with our incredible Leadership Councils who help drive gambling reform.
🔹 Build and maintain partnerships with local councils across Australia to promote sustainable change.
🔹 Coordinate communication to share updates on campaigns, events, and advocacy work.
🔹 Help secure new partnerships and funding opportunities.

This is your chance to contribute to a just, healthy, and prosperous Australia, free from gambling harm. Apply now and be part of meaningful change!

This episode on ABC Radio National, presented by Sana Qadar, features experts unpacking how video games, shopping sites, and social media normalise gambling-like behaviours—especially for young people. In Australia, gambling is being embedded into everyday life. We need to push back against the industries priming the next generation for gambling harm.

Australia’s online gambling regulator has backed down—again. The Northern Territory Racing Commission quietly scrapped a vital new code of practice just weeks before it was due to begin. The reforms would have forced gambling companies like Bet365, Sportsbet and Ladbrokes to increase transparency and better protect people from gambling harm.

Why the backflip? The Commission claimed the code might cause “confusion” with possible federal reforms—reforms that still haven’t appeared nearly two years after a damning parliamentary inquiry called for a national watchdog and a ban on gambling ads.

In the meantime, gambling losses have soared to $31.5 billion.

“The entire country is being held to ransom by the Northern Territory and its ongoing lax approach to regulation, licensing and enforcement.” —Rebecca Paterson, Director of Policy at The Alliance

At just 17, Dylan was a rising cricket star. Now 28, he says gambling has “destroyed my life in every way, really,” costing him $300,000, friendships, and his mental health. His habit began in school, fuelled by easy online access and peer pressure.

“Young people are subject to an absolute torrent of gambling messaging... Online is a bit of a wild, wild west — and influencers are a huge part of that."

This is the real cost of unchecked gambling advertising. It’s time for stronger regulation. This election day, ask yourself: is your local candidate protecting our kids and supporting real gambling reform?

Roblox users like Merrick Wolski are raising alarms as gaming feels "blatantly" like gambling. A new report reveals "manipulative practices that cost people money, time, [and] their well-being," while Australia's outdated classification system fails to protect young players. It's time to stand up against gambling harm disguised as gaming fun.

In a powerful piece, The Alliance’s Chief Advocate Tim Costello calls out the major parties’ silence on banning gambling ads—despite 76% of Australians supporting it. “It is bizarre that both parties have pledged to ‘protect our kids from social media’ but they are more than happy for our kids to be exposed to gambling ads on their screens.” With 600,000 children aged 12–17 already gambling and nearly 40,000 petitioners calling for change, Costello urges voters to demand real answers this election.

On Front Page 94.7, The Pulse, The Alliance CEO Martin Thomas discussed staggering new data: “The latest research from the Australian Institute says that one in three underage kids are 12 to 17 gambling. It’s one in three—600,000 young kids.”

Despite this crisis, Martin says, “Polling shows that 76% of all Australians want a full gambling ad ban,” yet both major parties remain silent.

He exposed the real blockers: “closed door lobbying,” political donations, and “a million gambling ads a year.” The Alliance is calling for urgent reform.

✊ Join the fight. Support real change. Donate:

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.

1 in 3 Aussie kids aged 12–17 are gambling. That’s 600,000 teenagers losing over $18 million a year. The Alliance warns this is no accident – it's deliberate grooming by the gambling industry.

“There is evidence that the gambling industry targets kids as young as 14 years old through social media,” said Alliance CEO Martin Thomas. “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.”

"Polls now show that 76% of Australians want gambling ads banned. This is a stunning result," says Tim Costello, Chief Advocate of The Alliance.

The Murphy Report offers a roadmap for reform: a phased ban on gambling ads, a national regulator, and a ban on inducements. It has bipartisan backing—an “uncommon and extraordinary” show of unity. With gambling losses hitting $31.5 billion a year—more than power bills and close to NDIS spending—it’s time to act.

Up to 600,000 teens are gambling. Over a million ads flood our screens annually. This must end. Ask your local candidates: Will they back the Murphy Report?

Shocking new findings show that up to 600,000 teenagers under 18 years of age are gambling, spending more than $18 million annually. Almost one in three (30%) 12-17 year olds gamble and this spirals to almost half (46%) of 18-19 year olds who are betting $213 million every year, according to new research by the Australia Institute.

The research finds: “Australians start gambling in large numbers well before they are old enough to legally gamble”.

The Alliance for Gambling Reform’s Chief Executive, Martin Thomas, said the shocking findings are the result of a deliberate attempt by the gambling industry to groom children to gamble at a very young age.

A University of Sydney study has found that Roblox—used by millions of children—features gambling-like elements such as loot boxes, despite regulations banning them for under-15s. These games use real money for random rewards, exploiting kids’ underdeveloped ability to assess risk. Alliance Chief Advocate Tim Costello warns: “So it's really just a game priming our children for gambling.” Advocates are urging the next federal government to enforce existing laws and introduce tougher restrictions on games targeting children.

Crown’s mandatory carded play is working — helping reduce gambling harm and money laundering. But reform must go further. As Tim Costello says, “It’s an absolute vote winner. Every survey shows that Victorians are sick of the damage from pokies. Victoria and Jacinta need to lead and they will win.”

It’s time for statewide mandatory pre-commitment — no more delays, no more excuses. Let’s level the playing field and protect our communities.

Victorians lost a staggering $4 billion on poker machines in 2023-24. Now, the government is set to trial mandatory precommitment cards at 40 venues—but delays are costing lives.

Tim Costello is urging Premier Jacinta Allan to act now: "Enough harm, suicides, domestic violence and damage. Our courts are clogged with crime. Stand up for Victorians, pass this cashless card" he said.

Crown Casino was forced to introduce precommitment after a royal commission exposed its failures. Data on Crown’s pokies is not available publicly, but government insiders say that punter losses at the casino have dropped as a result of the scheme. If it works there, why wait to implement it everywhere?

Young Australians gamble less than older generations—but when they do, they engage in the most harmful forms. Nearly a third of 18-24-year-olds experience gambling harm, the highest rate of any age group. Pokies and online sports gambling, designed for immersion and addiction, are driving this crisis. With relentless gambling promotions and easy access, we’re failing young people. It’s time for urgent regulation to protect them.

The Albanese government promised to crack down on sports gambling ads, calling them “reprehensible.” But nearly two years after a landmark inquiry recommended a full ban, Labor has done nothing. Instead, it has delayed reform, held secret meetings with gambling industry giants, and admitted it won’t act before the election.

Meanwhile, gambling ads still flood Australian sport, normalising gambling for kids and causing immense harm to communities. The government’s inaction has left the industry to set its own rules—proving yet again that profits are being put before people.

The NSW government has scrapped its pledge to remove 9,500 poker machines, claiming it "would make no difference." But who did they listen to? An advisory panel stacked with gambling industry representatives. Meanwhile, communities continue to suffer from gambling harm.

This is a betrayal of voters and a win for the pokies lobby. NSW deserves real reform, not excuses.

New research has revealed how gambling companies “double donate” to political parties—once directly and again through their industry associations. These hidden financial ties give gambling interests more access to politicians and more power to influence policy, often at the expense of public health and community well-being.

Despite recent political donation reforms, the system remains highly opaque. More than half of the industry associations linked to alcohol and gambling don’t even disclose their members, making it difficult to track who is funding our politicians. The new rules also fail to prevent companies from donating multiple times through different channels.

With a federal election on the horizon, Australians deserve full transparency. Stronger reforms are urgently needed to protect democracy from the influence of gambling money.

The NRL’s season opener in Las Vegas—the global gambling capital—isn’t just about growing the game. It’s about gambling revenue. "The exporting of the opening round to the city that is the symbolic global capital of gambling is simply the natural outcome of a sport that has sold its soul to gambling," says Tim Costello, Chief Advocate for The Alliance.

NRL and AFL rake in millions from gambling ads, getting a cut of every bet. Meanwhile, reforms like banning gambling ads—backed by over 70% of Australians—are shelved. "The Prime Minister has shelved any reform, and Peter V’landys is cheering," Costello warns.

Taxpayer dollars are even funding the NRL’s expansion into Papua New Guinea, where gambling harm is already rising. We’re not just exporting footy—we’re exporting gambling devastation.

A new international study has found that loot boxes in video games share similar risk factors with gambling harm, linking them to anxiety, stress, and impulsivity. Flinders University professor Zsolt Demetrovics warns: “It might produce gambling later in adolescence – it’s an obvious risk.”

With Australian teens spending up to $70 a month on loot boxes and one in three children making in-game purchases, the risks are clear. The gaming industry must stop using gambling-like mechanics that lure young players into harmful spending habits.

The WA Government is strengthening gambling laws with tougher penalties and greater enforcement powers. These reforms, responding to the Perth Casino Royal Commission, aim to modernise regulation and deter illegal gambling.

GWC Chair Gary Dreibergs says: “The substantial increase in penalties will act as a more effective deterrent and a more appropriate punishment for law breakers.”

But to truly stop money laundering and protect people from gambling harm, The Alliance recommends a mandatory cashless gambling card with spending limits. This would:
✅ Prevent anonymous cash transactions
✅ Track gambling activity to detect suspicious behaviour
✅ Cut off the flow of dirty money in casinos

Support change. Donate to The Alliance today.

Independent MPs Andrew Wilkie and Rebekha Sharkie are demanding that gambling apps display live losses to help people see the real impact of their gambling. Right now, monthly statements aren’t enough—many people experiencing gambling harm don’t realise how much they’re losing until it’s too late.

"This would cost the government very, very little to police, but this would stop lives being lost," Ms Sharkie said.

The Alliance’s CEO, Martin Thomas, calls gambling harm an epidemic, revealing that up to one in five suicides could be linked to gambling harm. With weak consumer protections and predatory gambling companies exploiting personal data to push people into deeper losses, urgent action is needed.

Yet, the government continues to delay real reform, ignoring a landmark report that recommended banning gambling ads. Enough is enough.

Gambling has infiltrated our daily lives, especially through smartphones. With apps offering 24/7 access and sports betting integrating into sports culture, it’s never been easier—or more dangerous—to gamble. Globally, 80 million people suffer from gambling harm, many lured by apps designed to exploit our brains' reward systems.

Kids aren't immune, with games like Roblox gamifying gambling behaviours; for example loot boxes – where you trade real money for random digital items.

The NSW Government is banning gambling ads on public transport—buses, trains, ferries, and light rail. While this move is a step in the right direction, it’s nowhere near enough.
The Alliance supports this ban, but also would like to see the full implementation of Peta Murphy’s report, as well as the implementation of the mandatory cashless card for Poker machines.

Kate Roberts from the Gambling Impact Society supports the ban but stresses that the government must go further. "You know, kicking things around the edges and not actually biting the bullet and it just actually is continuing the damage. I mean, effectively, Australians are the biggest losers in the world, and we've known that for years."

If the next election delivers a hung parliament, Teal MPs will demand a full gambling ad ban as part of negotiations. Goldstein MP Zoe Daniel is clear: "My position has been clear and consistent, as the Murphy report unequivocally found, partial gambling bans do not work," Mackellar MP Sophie Scamps highlights the devastating consequences, saying "We know that it increases people are losing their homes, domestic violence, losing their jobs it's having all sorts of public health implications, and we need to act," Wentworth MP Allegra Spender adds that her community supports the ban and expects action; "people in my community back a ban on gambling ads and this will be one of a number of priorities I continue to pursue if I am re-elected," she said.

With Labor delaying reform and betting companies fighting restrictions, independent Senator David Pocock is now calling for an inquiry into the gambling industry’s influence over government policy. Will politicians stand with the public—or with gambling giants?

New AEC figures expose how gambling companies continue to buy political influence. While the government considered reforms to sports gambling—then conveniently shelved them—Sportsbet donated $88,000, Tabcorp $60,500, and peak body Responsible Wagering Australia gave $66,000 to Labor.

This isn’t just loose change. It’s a clear attempt to keep the status quo—where gambling companies rake in billions while Australians face devastating gambling harm. We need real political will to break this toxic cycle and protect our communities from predatory gambling.

NSW’s Labor government will ban gambling ads on trains, buses, light rail, and stations, addressing concerns about their harmful impact, especially on children. This move responds to public pressure after ads for the sports gambling app Picklebet flooded Sydney’s transit network.

“Parents are rightly worried about the impact it [gambling advertising] has on their kids, so it’s not something that we think needs to be on our transport network,” said Transport Minister Jo Haylen.

Reverend Tim Costello, Chief Advocate for The Alliance, joined Gary Hardgrave on 4BC Drive: “Look, the short-sightedness and greed of both sides of politics saying, well, we have a shiny new building, the electorate will applaud us.”

“We’re not actually looking at their business model, which was crime and predatory gambling practices.”

We must prioritise people over profits. Join us in challenging the systems driving gambling harm.

Former PM John Howard has slammed poker machines as a “grave social evil,” urging national action and accusing Anthony Albanese of inaction: “It looks like Albanese has gone to water... I couldn’t be more critical.” Alliance Chief Advocate Tim Costello agrees: “The states regulating is like Dracula in charge of the blood bank.” It’s time for national reform, not silence. The Alliance stands with all voices calling for urgent change.

Australia’s gambling crisis is drawing international attention. In an article by Denmark correspondent Meike Wijers, Anzac Day traditions like two-up are shown to highlight how deeply gambling is woven into Australian culture – but behind the "innocent game" lies a national crisis. Australians lose over $31 billion every year to gambling – that’s more than the government spends on aged care.

Gambling harm is linked to financial devastation, domestic violence, and even suicide. Despite strong public support for reform, successive governments have failed to stand up to the gambling industry’s influence. "Many Australian families spend more money on gambling than on their energy bills," says Alliance CEO Martin Thomas.

To read this article in English: Right Click > Translate to English.

The Alliance’s latest press release, awarded Press Release of the Month by Medianet editors, exposes a shocking truth: 600,000 underage Australians are gambling. That’s enough to fill the MCG six times over. Released during the 2025 federal election campaign, it calls on all political candidates to back the 31 urgent recommendations from the Murphy Inquiry—especially a full ban on gambling ads. “This isn’t political—it’s about protecting kids,” said Alliance CEO Martin Thomas. The message is clear: protect children, not gambling profits.

🚫 End gambling ads.
🧒 Protect kids.
🗳 Demand action.

This election day, ask yourself: is your local candidate protecting our kids and supporting real gambling reform?

The Alliance has reached over 20,000 voters across key marginals—Brisbane, Gilmore, and Deakin—pressuring major parties to commit to real gambling ad reform before the May 3 election.

Young Australians are growing up surrounded by gambling ads. They name the brands, recite odds, and see classmates gambling in class. One father said: “It’s advertised to children every day of the week when they watch their favourite sport stars, so they think it’s normal.”

Senator David Pocock nailed it: “What I’m hearing from people here in the ACT that I represent is that this [gambling harm] is not the direction they want to go in.”

Ask if your local candidate supports gambling reform this election.

600,000 teens aged 12–17 are gambling, losing over $18M a year. That’s enough to fill the MCG six times.

Tim Costello warns that in the absence of government action, “schools have to, with their duty of care, say ‘this is a massive issue that affects mental health. It sets up potentially a lifelong addiction. We have to step in’.”

Martin Thomas adds, “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.”

Help us protect young minds from lifelong harm.

Despite more than a year of work and pressure, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese shelved a proposed clampdown on gambling ads – overriding his own minister, Michelle Rowland, to avoid upsetting media and sports bosses.

“He threw her [Rowland] under a bus,” said The Alliance's Tim Costello. “V’landys is the prime minister when it comes to gambling. He won on this one.”

Rowland’s plan included a cap on TV ads, bans around live sport, and restrictions online – real steps to reduce gambling harm. Instead, Albanese sided with power players like the NRL and AFL, again putting profits before people.

Australia loses over $25 billion a year to gambling—and our online gambling industry is still being regulated by just six people in the Northern Territory. Several of them have direct ties to the industry they oversee.

The Chair of the NT Racing and Wagering Commission admitted he has “attended the Darwin Cup as a guest” of corporate bookmakers. The NT Racing Minister also accepted gifts from Sportsbet, Tabcorp, and the Darwin Turf Club.

Tim Costello from The Alliance says: “Bookies will always go to the place where the regulation is weakest… [It] explains why Australia has the greatest per capita gambling losses in the world.”

Mark Kempster, now an advocate with The Alliance after losing $100,000 to gambling harm, says the NT commission is overwhelmed: “They don’t have the right resources to actually undertake regulation of a whole national industry.”

A federal report recommended a national regulator “with the sole purpose of reducing harm”—yet the Albanese government hasn’t acted.

New research by the University of Sydney shows live streaming gambling is drawing massive audiences—some in the tens of thousands. These streams, found on Twitch, Kick, YouTube and TikTok, build communities around gambling, promote risky behaviours, and even include fake-money games in chats.

Most viewers say watching these streams makes them more likely to gamble—not less.

Live streaming is not just entertainment. It's fuelling gambling harm.

Bright, playful vending machines are quietly grooming young people for gambling. For $20, users of 'Lucky Box' can win anything from a fake crystal to a PS5 – or nothing at all. With no regulation and prizes determined by chance, these machines fall into a dangerous legal grey area.

https://www.nslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/HealthPromotion/Documents/NotKidsBusiness_Report_2025.pdf

This comes as new research from the Australia Institute finds: “Australians start gambling in large numbers well before they are old enough to legally gamble.” Up to 600,000 teens under 18 are gambling, spending over $18 million each year.

Canberra Raiders captain Joseph Tapine has revealed he experienced serious gambling harm from poker machines early in his career. He spoke candidly about how a culture of gambling and alcohol in footy made it difficult to escape the cycle. Tapine’s story highlights how young athletes are especially vulnerable to the harms of poker machines and why stronger protections are urgently needed.

"Gambling losses are a bigger drain on the household budget than power bills – yet still missing from the budget," says The Alliance CEO Martin Thomas.

New data shows Australian households spent more on gambling than on electricity, gas or housing. $31.5 billion is lost each year – $1,527 per adult – with devastating impacts on families.

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8925785/why-gambling-reform-isnt-in-australias-budget-plans/?cs=14246

"With such a surge of public support it is perplexing to witness the gross inaction on the major parties on gambling reform."

Three in four Australians back a total ban on gambling ads. So why aren’t our leaders acting?

Nearly two years since the Murphy Inquiry, not one of its 31 gambling reform recommendations has been implemented — despite urgent calls for change.

This week, as Victoria debates mandatory precommitment cards, federal leaders remain silent. Tim Costello, Chief Advocate for The Alliance, says: "Both Prime Minister Albanese and Peter Dutton have been captured by the gambling industry."

Communities are suffering. Families are hurting. And still, gambling profits come before people.

New research from Melbourne Uni reveals a 57% increase in Australian men gambling on sport over the past seven years—jumping to over 60% for younger men.

https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/news/100919-the-rate-of-sports-betting-has-surged-more-than-57-%E2%80%93-and-younger-people-are-betting-more

Alliance CEO Martin Thomas warns: "The spiralling rates at which young people are gambling is a horrendous concern."

With Australians losing $32 billion a year to gambling, the government must act on the 31 recommendations from last year’s parliamentary inquiry. The fastest-growing form of gambling is online sports gambling—and young men are paying the price.

Australians lost a staggering $31.5 billion to gambling last year—more than we spend on electricity and gas combined. The fastest-growing form of gambling? Online - driven by relentless ads and easy access, exposing a new generation to devastating losses.

Martin Thomas, CEO of The Alliance, warns: "The rapid, spiralling pace of online gambling, led by young people and exposing a whole new generation, is turbo-charging our losses."

With an election approaching, we must demand urgent reform—starting with a ban on gambling ads. Let's stop the harm.

Community and public health groups have expressed concern over reported plans by a lobby group for gambling and alcohol companies to influence the federal election outcome as a way to further stifle public health reform.

As reported in the Australian Financial Review, the Australian Hotels Association (AHA) plans to funnel tens of thousands of dollars into major political party candidates in electorates facing strong challenges from independents. The report claims the purpose behind this is to “minimise uncertainty of a hostile crossbench”.

Today the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) joins with the Alliance for Gambling Reform (AGR) to renew their call for an end to all political donations from alcohol and gambling companies.

AFR: https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/pubs-and-clubs-fund-major-parties-to-limit-hostile-crossbench-20250312-p5lj1l

The NRL’s push into Las Vegas has sparked backlash, with 60% of fans asking, “Why are we doing this again?”

Tim Costello said: “The exporting of the opening round to the city that is the symbolic global capital of gambling is simply the natural outcome of a sport that has sold its soul to gambling.”

Spiralling gambling losses are a bigger drain on the household budget than the cost of electricity and gas while gambling losses are growing at a rate faster than the cost of housing.

The CEO of the Alliance for Gambling Reform, Martin Thomas, said that for every person that gambles six other people are impacted. This makes gambling a critical but ignored cost-of-living pressure for families.

“Gambling reforms, such as banning gambling advertising, represent a non-inflationary, low-cost suite of initiatives that would bring profound relief to families who are struggling with rising prices of essentials,” he said.

Network 10 aired gambling ads during the Formula 1 Grand Prix—breaking clear rules designed to protect the community from gambling harm. ACMA found them in breach, but instead of a penalty, they got off with a warning and a promise to improve. This follows a similar breach by their streaming service last year. How many "warnings" before real action is taken? Broadcasters profit from gambling ads—shouldn’t they pay for the harm they help spread?

New figures showing poker machine losses in NSW have reached a record high of $8.64 billion are horrendous and underscore the urgent need for reform, the CEO of the Alliance, Martin Thomas, said.

The latest quarterly data from Liquor and Gambling NSW shows a 7 per cent increase in net profits for pubs and clubs – the steepest increase outside of the COVID rebound in at least six years. Mr Thomas said these losses represent social harm on an industrial scale across NSW and were exacerbating the cost of living crisis for countless battling families.

“There is clear evidence that a mandatory cashless card with pre-set loss limits would not only reduce criminal money laundering through poker machines but also dramatically reduce gambling harm,” Mr Thomas said.

SMH: https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/poker-machine-losses-hit-record-high-last-year-20250220-p5ldr7.html

NSW’s three newest MPs—Monica Tudehope, James Wallace, and Jacqui Scruby—used their first speeches to call out the damage caused by poker machines. The Alliance’s Tim Costello says they’ve shown “more leadership than [Premier Chris] Minns and Labor” on gambling reform.

Tudehope highlighted that Australia has “the worst gambling losses in the world,” while Wallace called for technology to be used to “empower people by establishing an effective exclusion register” and self-imposed limits. Scruby pushed for immediate action, saying, “It’s time to reignite the appetite and commitment to reform.”

It’s clear: NSW wants real change. Australia wants real change. The question is, will the government listen?

Young women are gambling at the same rates as men, yet stigma and lack of research leave many suffering in silence. Ella McIntosh lost $20,000 after downloading a solitaire gambling app at 19. "I felt really ashamed of it because there was nothing showing me that it's something that happens to women."

Research shows women aged 18–34 are most at risk, yet gambling companies continue targeting them with aggressive marketing. The government has had nearly two years to act on 31 recommendations from the You win some, you lose more report—but nothing has changed. Advocate Kate Seselja says, "There’s no excuse for not taking action to protect Australia's wellbeing."

Once, pokies were seen as a game for older Australians. Not anymore. Young people aged 18–24 are now the biggest demographic of poker machine users in Victoria.

Dr Charles Livingstone warns, "The old stereotype was people in their 40s, 50s and 60s...There is a trend that people who use pokies are increasingly younger people." With gambling harm rising, we can’t ignore this shift.

The pokies industry is targeting young Australians—it's time to push back.

Take a stand. Donate to The Alliance today.

The government has ignored the Murphy Report on gambling harm for nearly two years—despite over 70% of Australians wanting a ban on gambling ads. Mark Kempster, who bravely shared his lived experience, says: “It took a lot for us to give evidence... to have the government turn its back on us has been pretty disgusting.” The gambling lobby’s grip on politics is costing lives. Enough is enough. Ban gambling ads now.

Alliance Voices Advocate Mark Kempster lost $100,000 to online gambling and knows firsthand the harm it causes. Now an advocate for change, he’s fighting for urgent reforms—including a total ban on gambling ads.

"Every day these ads stay on TV, people fall back into addiction." Mark says he’s even had to stop watching live sport to protect his mental health. He accuses the government of failing Australians by delaying action on the Murphy Report, despite the Prime Minister promising to honour the late MP’s legacy.

"He's just kicked the can down the road." The report, which includes over 30 recommendations, still hasn’t been tabled in Parliament—nearly two years after Mark gave evidence.

The AFL is pushing for a bigger slice of gambling profits, negotiating with bookmakers to increase its cut from sports betting. Already making up to $40 million a year from these deals, the league wants an even greater share from bets on match results, player stats, and finals—potentially increasing its gambling revenue by more than 25% annually.

This deeper reliance on gambling money comes at a time when Australia faces mounting gambling harm. Fans should be able to enjoy the game without being bombarded by gambling ads and incentives. Instead of profiting from gambling losses, the AFL must take responsibility and break its toxic ties to the industry.

Bereaved families say coroners often overlook gambling’s role in suicides, leaving vital lessons unlearned. Many feel excluded from inquests, with critical evidence ignored.

Liz Ritchie from Gambling with Lives: “People are dying and it is not being properly established why.”

Up to 20% of suicides are linked to gambling harm, yet only one inquest has held a gambling firm accountable. Families are calling for urgent reform to ensure accountability and prevent future tragedies.