In Australia, around sixty personalities are putting pressure on the government to ban gambling advertising

An open letter signed by sixty Australian personalities and published on Saturday August 10 urges the government to impose a total ban on gambling advertising, in a country where losses per player are among the highest in the world. “Gambling advertising in Australia is out of control, with one million gambling ads aired on TV and radio in just one year”criticises the letter, published by the Alliance for Gambling Reform association and addressed to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and opposition leader Peter Dutton.

The signatories include former political, trade union, sports and religious leaders. They are urging the government and conservative opposition to ban all gambling advertising within three years, in line with the recommendations of a 2023 report on its dangers. Gambling losses in Australia, a country of just 27 million people, are estimated at A$25 billion a year (just over €15 billion), according to Martin Thomas, the association’s chief executive. Ads urging people to risk their money are widespread on television, radio and billboards.

“Any move to simply cap advertising, or limit a blanket ban to social media alone, would be a victory for vested interests and leave Australians exposed to significant harm.”said Martin Thomas. In addition to financial losses, the cost of inaction would be “increasing financial ruin, mental health problems, suicides and domestic violence that gambling can exacerbate”he continued.

Australian media outlet Nine Entertainment has said the government is expected to announce a bill in the coming weeks, with a restriction rather than a total ban on advertising more likely. Last week, Anthony Albanese said his government had engaged with the “stakeholders” has “minimize the harm caused by gambling”but he declined to say whether an advertising ban was being considered.