Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has seemingly backtracked on suggestions that the government would introduce a ban on gambling ads saying “The problem isn’t advertising, the problem is gambling.”
Speaking on ABC radio today, Albanese said that the blanket ban on gambling ads, which was recommended in the the government inquiry into the effects of online gambling on problem gamblers, was not the ‘bold’ move that many made it out to be.
Australian Prime Minister Backtracks on Gambling Ad BanAustralian Prime Minister Backtracks on Gambling Ad Ban“The easy option is just to (ban ads) and not worry about the consequences for sporting codes, junior sport, the media.”
He added:
“I haven’t seen a campaign about advertising lotteries – which is a far bigger problem than sports gambling,”
However, Mr Albanese noted lotteries and scratchies were the most common gambling products, with 64 per cent of Australian adults participating in 2022.
A number of politicians spoke out in opposition to his comments including Independent Senator David Pocock:
“This is about banning advertising so gambling stops being normalised for children. Kevin Rudd had the guts as prime minister to take on Big Tobacco and legislate plain packaging. Anthony Albanese needs to show the same courage here and ban gambling advertising.”
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young took it a step further saying that the prime minister was failing to fulfill his own promise after Albanese had previously said the status quo on gambling ads was “completely unacceptable” and vowed further reforms.
Australian Prime Minister Backtracks on Gambling Ad BanIf the prime minister cares about community sport, he should fund community sport – hiding behind limp excuses created and parroted by the gambling lobby is not leadership.”
Members of the prime minister’s own have also called on him to carry out the recommendations of Ms Murphy’s report, which called for a total ban on gambling ads phased in over three years. No action has been taken following the publication of the inquiry’s results almost 15 months ago.
According to the latest Australian Gambling Statistics, Australians have the largest losses in the world with customers losing approximately AU$1,635 each year to gambling.
