NEWSLETTERS

As we approach footy finals, Australia is now experiencing peak gambling advertising exposure.

 

It’s so bad that a recent survey of AFL players managers reported that even the players were being negatively impacted. It found more than 76% of player managers cited gambling among footballers as a grave concern.

 

The fans themselves have already spoken with the last annual survey of the AFL Supporters Association revealing 80% support banning gambling ads at AFL grounds and 76% agree that gambling advertising should be banned from TV and radio. While 62% believe the AFL should not receive revenue from gambling.

 

Every day we hear from angry parents who are concerned that the gambling advertising that now entangles itself around sport, especially our football codes, are grooming our kids to gamble.

 

And we are hearing from schoolteachers and children alike that gambling is now ubiquitous and the peer pressure to share sports betting stories is almost irresistible.

 

Research now shows that 600,000 kids – aged 12-17 – gambled a total of $18 million last year. This is a mind-boggling statistic that should provoke swift government action.

 

There are some positive signs that the new Federal Communications Minister, Anika Wells is working behind the scenes to finally produce a government response to the 31 recommendations of the Murphy Inquiry report.

 

Last month, marked the two-year anniversary of the government receiving the landmark Murphy Report which is a blueprint to take Australia from the world’s biggest gambling losers to dramatically reduce gambling harm across our community.

 

We are working hard and hoping that the new parliament brings an opportunity for real and meaningful gambling reform at the federal level.

There was a major breakthrough in the last few weeks with the Victorian Government announcing its long-anticipated trial of a cardless system of poker machine play in pubs and clubs.

 

The system which is already reducing harm at Melbourne’s Crown Casino will be trialled in 43 venues with gambling machines across Monash, Greater Dandenong and Ballarat.

 

The trial comes as the Victorian Government released figures on the social cost of gambling – it is the only state to routinely measure the impact on community.

 

It showed Victorians lost over $7 billion to gambling every year and the State Government reaped $2.2 billion a year in revenue, but the social cost (bankruptcy, marriage break up, domestic violence etc.) totalled a whopping $14 billion.

 

When you think Australians lose $32 billion to gambling every year, that social cost extrapolated nationally would skyrocket to an eye-watering $60 billion.

It is increasingly clear to the Australian people that we cannot afford to continue our national gambling problem. It’s time it became equally clear to our government.

 

The Alliance has also been campaigning in Tasmania, where we hope the new election will revive efforts to introduce a cashless pre-commitment card in that State. Given both the major parties have caved into pressure from the gambling industry, this is most likely something that the independents and the minor parties may have to initiate.

 

We know that wherever there is a movement for change – to protect Australians from gambling harm – there is also closed-door lobbying and pressure from the industry.

 

But with your continued support we can turn the tide. We can end gambling advertising. We can finally not be the country that loses more to gambling than any other in the world.

You can catch up on all the latest news stories here, and our recent media releases are listed below.

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Media Releases:

51 Tas candidates pledge to fight for critical gambling reform, 14 July 2025