A Labor MP Peta Murphy’s inquiry into online gambling harm in Australia is expected to recommend additional restrictions on gambling advertising, promotions, much to disapproval of broadcasters, sports codes, and betting operators.
Additional Regulation is required
Murphy is also the chair of the standing committee for social policy and legal matters. He stated that the inquiry received nearly 150 submissions and held multiple hearings to determine if further regulation of an industry that generates AU$50 million ($33.8 billion per year) is necessary, according to The Guardian.
“It is clear that it isn’t just community members that are concerned about the proliferation and engagement of young people with sports betting,” she stated. She said that there was “powerful evidence” from public health experts and academics that “harm from gambling” exists for both online and land-based betting.
Murphy’s proposal for further regulation would be met resistance by peak bodies of free-air TV and radio broadcasters. They argued that any further restrictions on advertising gambling would have an impact revenue from gambling contracts. This could result in a decrease in free sports coverage, as broadcasters look for other revenue streams.
Broadcasters are similar to major sporting organizations, who claimed restrictions on gambling advertising could affect funding for grassroots sport. Murphy disagrees and rejects their claims.
Multiple States Support Restrictions
She stated that the “suggestion of the current regime being absolutely perfect” was not supported by the evidence gathered during the inquiry from “community members” and “experts in the gambling area”. She invited these organizations to learn more about the “community views, expectations, and expectations regarding advertising.
Murphy claims that more regulation is likely to be required in the future because of the increase in gambling advertising and complaints to the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
Multiple states will support further restrictions on gambling advertising and promotions, with Shane Rattenbury (ACT attorney general) expressing his support to a near-complete prohibition on sports betting advertisement, while the South Australian government calls for a ban. The New South Wales, Queensland, and Tasmania authorities believe that the current system is inadequate.
Murphy stated that Murphy’s self-exclusion program, which was implemented by the Northern Territory Racing Commission, did not work as intended. It only allowed betting companies to get the details of those who had never opened accounts with them and sent promotions to gamblers trying to quit gambling.
