Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended his government’s decision not to impose a blanket ban on wagering advertising, pointing to the harm caused by other gambling avenues.
While it is believed that gambling advertising reforms, including a cap on broadcast advertising and a total ban on promotion of sports wagering online and on social media, have been discussed in cabinet, no formal government policy has been announced.
The Prime Minister was asked about his government’s refusal to ban all wagering advertising on Thursday and responded that most extreme measures were rarely the right measures.
“It's not a matter of doing something in order to satisfy a perception of boldness. It's a matter of getting policy right,” he told ABC Radio National.
He denied suggestions from host Patricia Karvelas that a total ban was the best policy,
“The problem isn't advertising, the problem is gambling. That's the problem,” he said.
“And when you look at what the fact is, that overwhelmingly, almost 70 per cent of problem gambling is about poker machines. An additional about 15 per cent is about lotteries and lottos and those things.
“I haven't seen a campaign about advertising in lotteries and lottos, which is far bigger problem than sports gambling.”
Albanese said that while advertising on sport had become “annoying”, it was important to make a measured approach on reform, which is something that was being worked on by Communications Minister Michelle Rowland.
“Sports gambling ads, I find them annoying. I'm not a gambler, but we need to get the policy right. I think it's the opposite of what you say. Sometimes, things that are characterised as being bold are actually the easy options,” he said.
Bren O’Brien
“The easy option is just to do that, not worry about the consequences for sporting codes, all of that, not worry about the consequences for media, but to do what lobby groups want you to do.
“Now, we're consulting and we will listen to all of the groups with respect and we'll come up with the right policy that will make a positive difference.”
Albanese made no specific mention of racing-centred wagering advertising during his brief discussion, which was the first public comment by the government on the proposed reforms in 10 days.
It is expected that the reforms will be put before parliament this year to avoid it being caught up with a federal election, which is due before May 17.
