Alliance for Gambling Reform, an Australian gambling harm organisation, has reiterated its demands for a total ban on gambling advertisements following increasing player losses.
The gambling trade body has called on Australian policy makers once again to push for a phase out of gambling advertisements, pointing to 2022/23 national gambling losses of $32bn.
Provided in a recent report from the Queensland Government, these figures show a significant increase on the only available previous loss figures of $25bn from 2018/19.
Martin Thomas, CEO of the Alliance for Gambling Reform, commented: “Australians lose more to gambling than any other nation in the world because we have a grossly inadequate regulatory regime in which the gambling industry has been allowed to operate virtually unchecked causing devastation to individuals, families and communities.
“These latest horrifying loss figures underscore the importance of the Federal Government adopting all 31 recommendations of the Murphy Report including a full ban on gambling advertising on broadcast media and online. It also proves the need for a national strategy on gambling and the formation of a national regulator.”
A recent inquiry into the potential ban of gambling advertisements saw the late Labour MP Peta Murphy, who initially chaired the inquiry, request that promotions should be taken down from all communication channels, including TV, radio, newspapers and online platforms.
Despite making progress towards an advertising ban, the current Labor cabinet under PM Anthony Albanese continues to be criticised for diverting from the Murphy report, moving in favour of the gambling sector. This came as part of 31 proposed reforms on gambling within the nation.
Last month, the Alliance published an open letter demanding that Albanese and the government stay on track with the planned ban on gambling ads, with support from 60 politically prominent signees.
Thomas added: “The Albanese Government has been sitting on the recommendations of the Murphy Report for more than 14 months now, it is time for action, it is time for political leadership to protect Australians and especially to protect our children who are being groomed to gamble by a ruthless, profit-hungry industry.”
