Gambling Ads Face New Limits in Australia

Australia has introduced fresh rules to curb gambling advertising. The government will stop ads that use celebrities and will only show online ads to people who are logged in and over 18 years old. These changes aim to protect children from seeing gambling messages. On television, the new law caps ads at three per hour between 6 a. m. and 8:30 p. m. No gambling commercials will air during live sports in those hours. Radio ads are also banned at school drop‑off and pick‑up times. The policy goes further by banning gambling logos on sports uniforms, in stadiums, and from any sports event. It also requires parents to opt out if they do not want their children exposed to gambling ads.Critics argue that the government is still relying on parents to protect kids, rather than putting more responsibility on gambling companies and online platforms. Some say the measures are not strong enough to tackle the huge health costs linked to gambling. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described these rules as the biggest gambling reform ever. He said they address public health concerns and reduce children’s exposure to harmful advertising. The new regulations will start in 2027, giving businesses time to adjust. The aim is to reduce the amount of gambling promotion Australians see every day.