The government of Australia has introduced legislation that would bring broad changes to the regulation of online casinos, including tighter restrictions on wagering advertising, stronger enforcement against illegal operators and additional support for people experiencing gambling harm.
The Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026 was introduced to Parliament on 2 July alongside the National Self-Exclusion Register (Cost Recovery Levy) Bill 2026. According to the government, the package contains the country’s strongest gambling harm reduction measures to date and aims to reduce children’s exposure to wagering promotion while strengthening consumer protections.
If approved, most reforms are expected to take effect from 1 January 2027.
Advertising Rules Face Major Changes
The legislation introduces restrictions across television, radio, digital platforms and sporting venues.
Television broadcasters would be limited to three gambling advertisements per hour between 6:00am and 8:30pm, while wagering advertising would be prohibited during live sports broadcasts within those hours. Radio gambling advertising would also be banned during school drop-off and pick-up periods.
Online gambling advertising would only be permitted for logged-in users aged 18 or older who have the option to opt out. The bill would also prohibit athletes, celebrities and influencers from promoting wagering products, ban broadcasts of sporting odds promotions and remove gambling advertising from sports venues and players’ and officials’ uniforms.
Communications Minister Anika Wells said: “Australians love their sport, and they should be able to sit down and enjoy it with their families without being bombarded by gambling advertising and betting odds.
“These reforms break the connection between sport and wagering, minimising kids’ exposure to gambling ads and reducing their saturation on TV, radio and online.”
Illegal Gambling and BetStop
The legislation would allow banks and payment providers to block transactions involving illegal gambling operators while giving the Australian Communications and Media Authority broader powers to block unlawful gambling websites.
The government also plans to prohibit online keno products described as “pocket pokies” and foreign matched lotteries while further regulating trade promotion services. The government also introduced legislation allowing the costs of expanding BetStop to be recovered from gambling companies.
Officials said the national self-exclusion register had recorded more than 65,400 registrations by the end of June. Additional Budget funding will support financial counselling services and a public awareness campaign.
Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said: “Gambling harm touches too many Australian lives and we know its impact does not stop with the person who is gambling. For every person experiencing gambling harm, around six others – family, friends, workmates and loved ones – can feel the effects through financial pressure, stress and strained relationships.
These reforms are about reducing that harm, and making sure children grow up loving sport for the game – not seeing gambling as an essential part of it.”
Debate Continues in Parliament
Several Coalition members, Greens MPs and independents argue the bill should go further.
Some lawmakers have called for a Senate inquiry and stronger restrictions on gambling advertising, inducements and online promotions. Independent MP Andrew Wilkie urged the government to replace the proposal with broader reforms, while other critics said additional protections for children and young people should be included before Parliament votes on the legislation.
Source:
“Delivering Meaningful Reform To Reduce Gambling Harms”, publicnow.com, Jul 2, 2026
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