The Australian Government has introduced a significant new piece of legislation aimed at addressing gambling harm and tightening advertising regulations. The Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill 2026 proposes to revise the existing gambling advertising landscape, imposing stricter limits on ads across television, radio, and the internet. Notably, it sets a cap of three gambling advertisements per hour during the hours of 6:00 AM to 8:30 PM. Furthermore, the bill prohibits gambling ads during live sports broadcasts and restricts online casino promotions to individuals aged 18 and over.
The reform will also bar athletes, celebrities, and influencers from endorsing casinos, halt advertising within sporting venues, and limit the promotion of betting odds. Additionally, the legislation will enhance the authority of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), allowing it to block illegal gaming sites and paving the way for banks and payment service providers to refuse transactions linked with such activities.
Alongside these advertising measures, the Government plans to introduce a separate independent bill that would establish a cost-recovery levy on gambling operators. This levy is intended to fund improvements to the national self-exclusion register, known as BetStop.
Despite the Government dubbing these reforms as the most comprehensive gambling regulation package in Australia’s history, some Members of Parliament are advocating for even stricter regulations, including broader advertising bans and enhanced controls on online gambling advertisements.
