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Welcome to our
July 2024
NEWSLETTER

Check out all our latest updates

Message from the CEO

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Martin Thomas
CEO

The Olympics are here again and as a nation we celebrate the efforts of our athletes as well as those from across the globe.

Unfortunately the Olympics are also a reminder that whenever we watch sport, we are forced to suffer virtually endless gambling adverts.

While there are some modest restrictions of gambling advertising during live play, there are still enough loopholes to allow a tsunami of ads across our screens. Indeed, more than one million gambling ads have been played on Australian free-to-air television and radio in just a one year period.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. If you haven’t already, please join the more than 35,000 people who have signed our petition calling on the Federal Government to implement all 31 recommendations of the Murphy Report from the Parliamentary Inquiry into Online Gambling which includes a recommendation for a 3 year, phased in ban on all gambling advertising.

The Alliance is also joining with the Sustainable Investment Exchange (SIX) as part of a shareholder activism campaign to pressure Channel’s Seven and Nine to stop airing gambling advertisements. Read about the campaign here.

Finally, I am delighted to write this newsletter as having just been appointed the new CEO of the Alliance for Gambling Reform, after acting in the role for the last few months.

I am humbled to take up this role and thankful for all the support we receive from you.

A very heartfelt thank you.

I hope you enjoy reading this edition of our newsletter. This month, our feature articles are:

  1. Gambling ads must not feature in Olympic coverage

  2. 35,000 sign petition to end gambling ads

  3. New campaign to ban gambling ads on Seven and Nine

  4. A new generation groomed to gamble

  5. Online inducements leading to riskier gambling

  6. Review into online keno and offshore lotteries

Stand with the Alliance

Enough is enough, it is time for Australia to introduce major gambling reforms.
Help us continue our fight for an Australia free from
gambling harm.
All donations over $2.00 are tax-deductible.

Thank you for your support.



If you wish to donate via bank transfer,
please contact info@agr.org.au for our bank details.

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Gambling ads must not feature in Olympic coverage

The Alliance is putting the Olympics broadcaster, the Nine Network on notice not to breach the advertising code by running gambling ads during its free-to-air and online coverage of the Paris games.

Last Olympics the then broadcaster Seven aired 49 betting promotions during its Olympic coverage on its Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide broadcasts. Kids watching the Olympics don’t need to see gambling ads. Sporting coverage in Australia is already drenched in gambling advertising.

Under the regulations, broadcasters must not show gambling advertising from 5 minutes before the start of the first event of the day until 8:30pm, and not more than once every two hours after that time.

Breaches can be reported to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) through their gambling advertising online complaint form.

>>>Read more

Gambling ads must not feature in Olympic coverage

35,000 sign petition to end gambling ads

More than 35,000 people have signed our petition to ban all gambling advertising and again, we are calling on the Federal Government to adopt all 31 recommendations of the Murphy Report which includes a phased-in, 3-year ban on all gambling advertising.

Gambling advertising makes gambling look exciting and risk-free, but gambling is addictive and harms millions of Australians. The Alliance believes that all Australians should be able to enjoy their favourite sports without gambling ads, however gambling ads are often placed when and where children and teenagers will see them the most.

You can sign the petition to #EndGamblingAds here.

>>>Read more

Family Cheering
35,000 sign petition to end gambling ads
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New campaign to ban gambling ads on Seven and Nine

We believe that Australia’s biggest media companies should not be making money off destructive gambling ads, and earlier this year, the team at Sustainable Investment Exchange (SIX) came on board to help #EndGamblingAds by providing a campaign with a new angle with which to create change: shareholder activism.

Big companies are controlled by their shareholders, and SIX has launched their trading platform to the public and are looking for people to buy shares in Seven and Nine so the shareholders can propose a shareholder resolution to compel Seven and Nine to take action to End Gambling Ads.

SIX need 100 shareholders in each of these companies by the end of August so a shareholder resolution can take place at their next Annual General Meeting. You can learn more about the SIX campaign to #EndGamblingAds by visiting the SIX website or by contacting SIX by email at info@six-invest.com.au if you have any questions.

New campaign to ban gambling ads on Seven and Nine

A new generation groomed to gamble

Sports betting has exploded in Australia, and new figures show that the number of people betting on sport has doubled in the last five years alone.

Today more than a quarter of all men aged 18-24, and a third of men aged 25-34 now bet on sport. Tragically, more than one-third of all spending on sports betting is now coming from people with a gambling problem.

And for some betting companies up to 20% of their customer base is made up of people with a gambling problem, according to research by Roy Morgan.

You can read the full article written by our CEO, Martin Thomas, on the Alliance website here.

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A new generation groomed to gamble
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Call to ban online gambling inducements

The Alliance for Gambling Reform calls on the Australian government to immediately ban all forms of online gambling inducements and inducement advertising, including direct messaging to customers as these practices are causing great gambling harm to Australians.

Gambling companies are taking advantage of weak advertising and consumer protection laws to offer inducements that encourage riskier bets and are cynically targeting people with gambling problems through tailored, personalised marketing.

You can read our full media release here and our Inducements Policy is available here.

>>>Read more

Call to ban online gambling inducements

Review into online keno and offshore lotteries

The Federal Government has announced it will hold a review over the next twelve months into the regulation of online Keno and “foreign matched” (offshore) lotteries.

The review will look into the nature and size of online Keno and offshore lotteries in Australia, as well as the impact of emerging keno-type lotteries. It will also cover adverse experiences from customers, including the loss of deposits and non-payment of winnings.

The Alliance for Gambling Reform welcomes this review as we have been increasingly concerned about these products for some time.

>>>Read more

Image by dylan nolte
Review into online keno and offshore lotteries
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Councils and Supporters

Councils and Supporters July 2024

Annual figures released for 2023/24
This month has seen disappointing outcomes for some councils, with the financial year figures from Victoria showing an overall increase in losses on poker machines across the State.

This year's figure of $3.03 billion is another new high for Victorians, off the back of last year's record breaking $3.02 billion.

Much of this increase came from the City of Melbourne, which increased its losses by nearly $10 million. We believe this is a result of the implementation of mandatory carded play at Crown Casino from 1 December 2023.

This underscores the need for the Victorian Government to hasten their legislation for mandatory carded gambling at all pubs and clubs in Victoria, which was announced in July 2023. You can read our recent media release on the Victorian figures here.

Regulator approves 40 machines
The City of Greater Bendigo has received news that the Commission has approved the Huntly Hotel as suitable for gaming with 40 machines. The Hotel is already operating as a pub but has opted to seek approval to add poker machines. This comes at a time when the surrounding community of Huntly is due to grow significantly, with hundreds of homes being built in a staged development just a block from the venue.

Gambling Harm Awareness Week
Victoria’s annual week to put the spotlight on reducing gambling harm is rapidly coming up, and after the dissolution of the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation (VRGF), it will be overseen by the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) this year.

At this stage, dates or a theme have not been confirmed, however it is typically the third week in October, which this year is the week beginning the 21 October.

This is a little complicated with council elections across Victoria happening on 26 October and with councils in caretaker mode from 17 September, which will limit the ability for large events or activities.

Please get in touch if you would like any support such as speakers or ideas for your event.

Council policy
The Macedon Ranges Shire Council Gambling Harm Prevention Policy is listed on the council agenda for adoption in July, and the Mitchell Shire Council Electronic Gaming Machine Policy is listed on the council agenda for adoption on 19 August.

Share your
Voice

The fastest growing group to experience gambling harm in Australia is young people aged between 18-30. We also know that the predatory gambling industry targets young people and even our kids in grooming them to become the gamblers of the future

We are very keen to hear from young people who have experienced gambling harm. We also want to hear from parents whose children have been affected by gambling.

We want to enable people to tell their stories, to highlight what the gambling industry is doing to a generation of young people. We want to see changes in our laws to better protect children and young people.

Yet the Alliance is also concerned about doing this in a way that empowers and protects people. To protect people’s identities but to allow them to be heard.

Please join us in protecting our young people and children from gambling harm. If we don’t speak up, we will never see change.

We would love to hear from you about your story.

Please email us at info@agr.org.au if you would like to share your story with us.

Share your Voice July 2024

In The News

In the News July 2024

Sydney Morning Herald

The Truth About Late-Night Pokies and Gambling Harm

9 December 2024

A study by Roy Morgan revealed that gambling on poker machines between 2am and 8am dramatically increased the risk of gambling harm. Nearly two-thirds of late-night gamblers faced severe negative consequences, and over 22% were classified as experiencing significant gambling harm.

Despite this, the NSW gambling reform panel's draft report only supported a six-hour pokies shutdown starting no later than 4am—ignoring evidence that late-night gambling primarily impacted those already vulnerable.

Research statistician Matthew Stevens stated, “It was really, really clear. The later at night people played the pokies, the more likely they were to be experiencing gambling harm.”

“But if you bring in gambling cards with set limits, it doesn’t matter when venues are open. They can be open 24 hours because once people hit that limit, they can’t gamble any more.”

Communities deserve better. We need mandatory cashless cards with set limits, , and we need more programs like Libraries After Dark, which provide free, safe, and friendly alternatives to spending the evening at the pokies.

ABC Northern Tasmania Drive

Alliance Advocate Mark Kempster Slams Inaction on Gambling Ads

7 December 2024

“Every day you delay action on these regulations is another day that another young Australian, or any Australian, falls into an addiction because of what we’re subjected to at the moment in the media.” – Mark Kempster

Mark Kempster, who lost $100,000 to gambling, is fighting for change. He describes the government’s refusal to act on a proposed phased ban on gambling ads as “ridiculous” and “disappointing.”

“We can’t watch sport. We can’t enjoy sport without having gambling advertising shoved down our throats,” says Mark. He adds: “Every week, I get a different young person in Australia messaging me [about gambling harm].”

Mark urges action: “I don’t want people to go through the issues I went through.”

ABC AM Radio

Gambling Advertising Fuels Harm: Why the Delay?

5 December 2024

Ed, an advocate with The Alliance, shares how his gambling harm escalated "tenfold" after moving to Australia. Now, he’s fighting for change.

Up to 20% of suicides are linked to gambling harm, and the festive season sees a spike in risky behaviours. The late Peter Murphy’s inquiry called for a total ban on gambling ads, but despite public support, the government has delayed reforms until 2025, citing complexity and industry pressure.

https://youtube.com/shorts/Bc2IoD2Xkjg?feature=share

Canberra Times

ACT Stands Strong on Cashless Gaming Reform Despite Pushback

3 December 2024

The ACT Government reaffirms its commitment to mandatory cashless gaming, rejecting calls to delay reforms after Tasmania shelved its plans for a pre-commitment card.

Tim Costello of The Alliance called Tasmania’s backtrack an "inexcusable capitulation" to the gambling lobby, highlighting Melbourne's Crown Casino as proof that cashless systems are feasible.

The ACT's progressive agenda includes cashless gaming, machine reductions, and a club sector inquiry—all vital steps to reduce gambling harm.

Saturday Magazine

Gambling Reforms Shelved—Who’s Really Winning?

8 December 2024

The government has shelved gambling reforms, ignoring overwhelming public support for action. Mark Kempster, an Alliance advocate, reflects on the harm caused: "An overwhelming majority in Australia don't want to see gambling ads on TV anymore."

Children as young as six now know the odds better than the players, while parents struggle to shield their families from the relentless advertising. "We're the first generation having to explain gambling terms like multis to primary school kids," says Kempster.

Despite an inquiry delivering clear recommendations eight months ago, vested interests continue to block reforms. It’s time to put community safety ahead of corporate profits.

ABC Radio National

The Fight Against Gambling Harm Continues

6 December 2024

The Alliance and Chief Advocate Tim Costello are spearheading a new Christmas campaign to hold the government accountable for tackling gambling ads. With Australia facing the world’s highest gambling losses per person, the harm is undeniable: families are devastated, domestic violence rates triple in homes affected by gambling, and children are exposed to relentless ads normalising gambling.

72% of Australians support a full gambling ad ban, echoing the late MP Peter Murphy’s courageous recommendations. Yet, despite bipartisan potential, PM Anthony Albanese has delayed action—leaving the issue unresolved and lives at risk.

The Alliance

Victoria: Taking Action. Your State: Taking Losses

4 December 2024

These aren't just numbers – it's families struggling to put food on the table. Kids missing out on school activities. Bills going unpaid.

Victoria proved reform is possible. Your state's politicians have NO excuse.

Help us fight for Victorian-style reforms where you live. Every day of delay means more families torn apart by gambling harm.

👉 Make change happen in your state - donate now

The Age

Why is the NSW Government Hiding a Key Report on Poker Machines?

3 December 2024


The Minns government is withholding a crucial report from the Independent Panel for Gambling Reform. This report could reveal solutions to billions in criminal "dirty" cash laundered through poker machines and address $8.1 billion in player losses last year. Alliance Chief Advocate Tim Costello previously called cashless gambling reform “historic” and essential for ending gambling harm. Yet progress stalls. Why is the government keeping this report from the public?

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