TLDR
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill will go to the House of Representatives next week.
- The bill builds on gambling ad reforms first announced in April 2026.
- TV gambling ads will be capped at three per hour between 6:00 am and 8:30 pm.
- Gambling ads will be banned entirely during live sport broadcasts.
- A Senate inquiry heard claims that some gambling firms offered drugs and sex workers to high-value customers.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed new gambling laws will reach the House of Representatives next week. He called the bill the strongest anti-gambling regulation Australia has ever introduced.
The legislation builds on reforms first announced in April 2026. Those earlier changes focused mainly on advertising rules but were criticized by opposition parties for not going far enough.
Labor holds a majority in the House, so the bill is expected to pass that first vote easily. The Senate is a different story, since Labor does not control it outright.
Albanese told his party’s Caucus that he recently met with opposition leader Angus Taylor. The two discussed sticking points in the bill, suggesting some compromise may be needed to get it through the Senate.
New Rules on Gambling Inducements
Under the Gaming and Wagering Commission Act of 1987, gambling companies cannot offer extra perks to lure in new customers. This is known as an inducement.
Operators who break this rule by offering rewards to open accounts or refer friends can face fines of 1,000 Australian dollars. However, the law carries one exception.
Direct messages sent to customers who already opted in are treated differently under current rules. Because they are not counted as public advertisements, these private messages can include offers that would otherwise be banned.
Advertising Changes and Limits
The new bill also targets how often gambling ads appear on television. Broadcasters will be limited to three gambling ads per hour between 6:00 am and 8:30 pm.
During live sport broadcasts, the rule is stricter. Gambling ads will not be allowed at all during these broadcasts.
These changes stem from recommendations made in a 2023 parliamentary report led by Peta Murphy. A similar reform package nearly passed in 2024 but was set aside before a vote could happen.
The original Murphy report called for a full ban on gambling advertising. The Greens and some independents still support that stronger approach.
Pressure for tighter rules has also come from testimony outside parliament. A Senate inquiry into gambling advertising heard claims of serious misconduct by some operators.
Former rugby league player Luke Bateman told the inquiry he was invited to sporting events by gambling companies. He said drugs were offered to him at these events.
Other witnesses told the inquiry that sex workers were provided to high-spending gamblers. Gambling companies named in the allegations have denied the claims.
Albanese addressed the need for balance in his comments to the Caucus. He said the government wants people to be able to place a bet at the races on a Saturday while also addressing problem gambling.
The bill’s introduction next week will be the first real test of how much support it can gather. Its path through the Senate remains uncertain as negotiations with the opposition continue.
