Voices In The News

Submissions close 24 July 2026. Tell the Senate to close streaming and live sport loopholes, implement the Murphy Report, phase in a full gambling advertising ban and ban gambling inducements.

Help tip this decision over the line.

Your voice could help shape the final reforms. Make a submission today

“I’ve stolen clients’ money, and you’re one of them.”

Kym Cavigan says her accountant, Andrew Marshall, stole $871,000 of her life savings and used it to fund gambling harm. Marshall pleaded guilty to theft and was sentenced to six years and five months in prison.

Kym is now working seven days a week and fighting for stronger laws so victims of crime can recover money lost to gambling companies.

Pressure is building on Premier Chris Minns to take stronger action on poker machines, with senior NSW Labor figures backing plans to cut machine numbers across the state. One proposal would halve poker machines over the next decade, as losses hit a record $9.3 billion in NSW in 2025.

The need for action is clear: people lost a record $9.3 billion on NSW poker machines in 2025. Voice for Gambling Reform advocate Max knows how predatory the industry is: “The artistry of poker machines is captivating. It's all designed to keep you engaged even though you're losing money.” Max knows that poker machines are designed - carefully, expensively, by teams of engineers and psychologists; to keep you sitting there for as long as possible. Max recounted that "some casinos pump pleasant fragrances through the air. Gentle music plays after small wins. The screens are built to be beautiful, to catch your eye and hold it."

Communities need reform that reduces gambling harm and puts people before poker machine profits.

A coroner is piecing together the final moments of a young man’s life, examining whether gambling companies played a role in his death. The inquest raises serious questions about companies ignoring clear red flags around inducements and gambling harm.

Alliance Voice for Gambling Reform Mark S said: "Regardless of the circumstance of this case which will be examined, we know inducements tend to disappear the moment a person starts winning - they appear to be reserved exclusively for consistent losers. This is precisely why the government must legislate a ban on all such inducements, which it conspicuously failed to do in its response tabled this week."

Gambling companies are designing products to exploit how our brains work - and our children are paying the price. The government’s reforms won’t begin until 2027, don’t ban online ads, and fall far short of what evidence shows is needed.

There’s still time. The Senate hasn’t voted yet, and stronger laws are possible - but only with public pressure.

The Zak Butters tribunal has raised a question that goes way beyond one disputed sentence on a footy field. Reports that an AFL umpire has a commercial relationship with a sports betting agency raise serious questions about conflict of interest — and exactly the kind of structural issue a national regulator could address.

Mark from Voices for Gambling Reform said: "This incident in the AFL is further reason why an independent regulatory body needs to be established as soon as possible. The fact that an umpire can do outside work for a sports betting agency is at the very least a conflict of interest."

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.

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.

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.

"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:

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).

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.

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.

Max knows how gambling harm begins, and how deliberately the industry keeps people trapped.

"The providers are very wealthy, and they're very cunning. They make it so easy to place a bet. It is predatory."

His story shows why weak reforms are not enough. Gambling inducements, endless ads and app-based gambling are putting young people and families at risk, while support remains out of reach for many who need it most.

New research shows young Australians are increasingly concerned about the flood of gambling advertising in sport, with many saying it has gone too far. While 77% of Australians support a total ban on gambling ads, the federal government's proposed reforms fall short of the Murphy Review's recommendation for a comprehensive ban.

Alliance Voices Advocate Mark S said:
"When our children are saying they've had enough of gambling ads, it's time for the government to listen. Young people should be able to enjoy sport without being bombarded by messages that normalise gambling. Kids can see the problem. The question is, why can't our leaders?"

Australians lose more to gambling per person than anyone else in the world, with $1,500 lost per adult each year. Behind that statistic are people pushed into debt, prison, family breakdown and suicidal distress.

One person harmed by gambling said: “I nearly took my own life over gambling because we just don't have the safeguards in place to protect vulnerable people.”

These stories show gambling harm is not about individual responsibility or weakness - it is about dangerous products, relentless access and systems that fail to protect people before the damage is done.

The Federal Government’s gambling reforms fail to protect children from the relentless normalisation of gambling. Alliance CEO Martin Thomas warned: “The evidence shows that underage kids as young as 14 are being targeted through social media to download gambling apps.”

Alliance Voices Advocate Mark Kempster shared his past lived experience with ABC Radio National, revealing he placed his first bet at just 16 years old and was exposed to gambling through sporting culture from a young age. Mark warned that easy access to gambling apps saw gambling become “every hour of the day” and left him feeling “completely trapped by the whole thing.”

Alliance Voices Advocate Mark Kempster joins radio host Tubes (Andy Taylor) for an honest conversation about how online gambling can quickly escalate into serious harm for young people.

Mark shares how gambling began when he was just 15, eventually leading to losses of $100,000 and nearly costing him his family. Together, they unpack why gambling feels normalised through sport and youth culture, the warning signs families often miss, and the hidden impacts on mental health, relationships and identity.

This important discussion offers practical ways parents, teachers, carers and communities can help prevent gambling harm and support young people early. Thank you to Anglicare Tasmania.

Dylan hasn’t placed a bet in over 300 days. Now he’s sharing his story to raise awareness and support others facing gambling harm.

We are proud to have Dylan as part of our Voices for Gambling Reform program, where lived experience and expertise is driving real change.

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.

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.

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."

That's how much money Tasmanians lost on pokies last financial year. Listen in on ABC TassieCast as hosts go through the issue in detail, and includes comments from the Alliance's Tim Costello and Mark Kempster.

"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:

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.

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

Too many people who share their stories with The Alliance have one thing in common - their gambling began when they were children or teenagers.

What started as a normalised activity in their family, community, or through exposure to gambling advertising often grew into serious gambling harm later in life. Their stories are a powerful reminder that gambling is not just an adult issue - the messages and influences young people are exposed to today can shape their future.

Max’s review of Shaun Micallef’s Going For Broke shows how gambling can be normalised through mateship, beers and a day out with friends - while the risks are pushed out of sight.

Max said, “When the presenter, Shaun, met with a group of young men it made me feel concerned at how much each bloke gambled.”

He also said, “The group of friends seemed to be having a great time with laughs and beers but may be unaware of the dangers of the possibility of getting addicted to gambling on the horses or dogs.”

We need stronger action to challenge the normalisation of gambling and protect young people from gambling harm.

The Albanese Government had a chance to deliver real reform on gambling harm - but this proposal leaves dangerous gaps.

Tim Costello said the Prime Minister’s recommendation is “only a half-measure, a timid response”, warning it does not solve the urgent need to protect children from gambling advertising.

Mark Kempster also warned that without a national regulator, a ban on inducements and a full advertising ban, the proposal gives the gambling industry “a free kick” to keep targeting Australians.

Families and communities need stronger action, not weak compromises. The Alliance is calling for reforms that put public health ahead of gambling industry profits.

Join Pete and Gid as they discuss gambling reform with Mark Kempster from The Alliance, exploring the dubious enticements of gaming revenue and why action on gambling harm matters.

The Prime Minister has announced new gambling reforms — but what do they really mean, and are they enough?

Join the Alliance for Gambling Reform for a public webinar unpacking what’s been announced, the progress made, and the gaps that remain. Hear from Alliance CEO Martin Thomas, Chief Advocate Rev. Tim Costello, and lived‑experience speaker Mark Kempster as they explore:

- What’s been announced: the wins and the gaps
- What the reforms mean for communities
- How you can get involved and use your voice to fight for greater protections

Date: 28 April 2026
Time: 12:30pm - 1:15pm (AEST)

Quentin Beresford shares what drove him to write Hooked and what he uncovered along the way. Read the behind-the-scenes piece on our website:

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.”

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.

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.”

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.

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."

"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.