NSW unveils sweeping wagering and gaming reforms
The NSW Government has announced a major package of wagering and gambling reforms aimed at reducing gambling harm, strengthening consumer protections and tightening oversight of online betting operators.
Among the headline measures is a ban on unsolicited direct marketing by online wagering providers, preventing betting companies from contacting consumers through cold calls, emails and text messages promoting wagering products.
The reforms will also prohibit commission payments to staff, affiliates and social media influencers that are linked to a customer’s wagering activity or losses. Public disclosure requirements will apply to other affiliate marketing arrangements.
The Minns government has also committed to developing a comprehensive NSW strategy to reduce online gambling harm, while introducing expanded enforcement powers, ongoing suitability requirements, new offences and increased penalties for breaches.
The wagering reforms sit within a wider package that includes a statewide self-exclusion register for gaming, third-party exclusion powers, mandatory facial recognition technology to support exclusions, and a transition toward account-based play to enhance harm minimisation measures.
“The Minns Labor government is introducing wide-ranging reforms to help combat gambling harm across the state,” Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said.
“These are common sense reforms that have been developed alongside industry, harm minimisation groups, stakeholders and privacy experts to address gambling harm while supporting the industry and protecting the livelihoods of the many people it employs.”
“By combining new technology, stronger exclusion tools, strengthened regulation and increased funding for harm reduction, we are building a safer system for the future.”
The package also includes a $20 million boost to the Responsible Gambling Fund over the next two years to support services and programs aimed at preventing and addressing gambling harm in NSW.
