Australia passes reform bill to restrict gambling advertising

Australia has approved new rules that will cut back how often wagering ads show up on TV, radio, and online, with a big focus on reducing exposure during live sport and limiting who can be targeted digitally. The changes come under the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026, which has now passed Parliament.

A key part of the reform targets live sport broadcasts. During live coverage of sporting events on broadcast and online content services, advertising restrictions will apply starting 15 minutes before a live sporting event begins and ending five minutes after it finishes, in the 5am to 8.30pm window. The government’s stated aim is stronger protections for minors and people most at risk of gambling harm.

Online advertising is also being tightened with an account-based approach. Wagering ads through online platforms will be restricted unless a person has a logged-in account, is over 18, and has the option to opt out of wagering advertising. The bill also establishes a Wagering Advertising Opt-out Register intended as a single place for people to opt out across all their services.

Beyond ads, the legislation expands tools aimed at illegal operators. Banks and payment systems will be allowed to block transactions to illegal gambling operators, and the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) will receive more powers intended to act faster to block illegal gambling websites. Several parts of the overall package will be enforced by the ACMA.

The bill also brings new limits on inducement marketing. Direct marketing of inducements will be banned for 14 days after someone signs up with a wagering company, for three months after a person deregisters from BetStop (Australia’s self-exclusion program), and to all customers identified as at risk of gambling-related harm. Reforms connected to BetStop were introduced following a statutory review, three years after the program’s introduction.

Communications Minister Anika Wells called the package the “strongest ever laws to tackle gambling harm,” pointing to relief from the “bombardment” of wagering ads in sport and tighter rules on inducements. Not everyone agrees it goes far enough: former Liberal MP Jenny Ware, who took part in the 2023 Peta Murphy-led inquiry that had called for a complete ban on gambling advertising, said the new law “falls far short” of that report’s recommendations.

Two additional bills were also passed: the National Self-Exclusion Register (Cost Recovery Levy) Bill 2026 and the Interactive Gambling (Cost Recovery Levy) Bill 2026, which mean costs tied to BetStop, its promotion, and the new inducement restrictions will be collected from gambling companies.