Government and Opposition Align on Plan for Australia’s Toughest Gambling Laws

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed that the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026 will be introduced to the House of Representatives next week.

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He described the legislation as the “strongest anti‑gambling regulation that Australia has ever seen.” The bill builds on reforms first unveiled in April, which included changes to advertising rules. Those earlier proposals drew criticism from opposition parties, who argued they did not go far enough.

Labor’s majority in the House ensures the bill will pass its first hurdle, but the Senate remains more complex. Albanese told the Caucus he had recently met with opposition leader Angus Taylor to resolve sticking points, signalling a willingness to compromise in order to secure support.

New restrictions on gambling inducements

Under the Gaming and Wagering Commission Act of 1987, anything offered to players that sits outside the core gambling product can be treated as an inducement.

These inducements are generally banned, and operators who use them to push customers into opening accounts or referring others face fines of A$1,000.

The law does allow for some exceptions. Direct messages sent to customers who have chosen to opt in are treated differently. Because they are not considered “published gambling advertisements,” they occupy a separate legal space. This distinction means inducements delivered privately through direct communication can avoid the same restrictions that apply to public advertising.

Multiple advertising amendments introduced

The new bill doesn’t stop at inducements. It also tackles how gambling ads reach younger audiences. One of the headline changes is a cap on television advertising, limiting broadcasters to three gambling spots per hour between 6:00 am and 8:30 pm.

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That restriction becomes even stricter during live sport, where the ban is comprehensive.

These measures are part of the government’s effort to act on recommendations made in Peta Murphy’s 2023 parliamentary report. A package of reforms responding to that report nearly passed in 2024 before being shelved, leaving the issue unresolved.

The report itself went further, calling for a complete ban on gambling advertising, a position still pushed by the Greens and some independents.

Pressure to strengthen the rules has also come from outside parliament. A Senate inquiry into gambling ads revealed troubling allegations, including claims that inducements were offered illegally.

Former rugby league player Luke Bateman told the inquiry he was invited to sporting events by gambling companies, where he said drugs were offered. Other testimony alleged that sex workers were provided to “high roller” gamblers.

Albanese shared the need for balance, saying it was important to deal with the issues constructively. He highlighted the importance of “making sure that we get the balance right between people who want to go along and have a punt on a Saturday at the races, but also, that problem gambling is actually dealt with.”

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Source: NEXT.io