TLDR
- The Australian government has introduced a bill to create a national register letting people opt out of gambling advertising.
- Communications Minister Anika Wells said a new levy on sports betting companies will help fund the register.
- New rules would cap TV gambling ads and ban them during live sport before 8:30 pm.
- Celebrities, athletes and influencers would be barred from promoting gambling products.
- VIP commissions paid to high value gamblers could be banned following testimony at a Senate inquiry.
The Australian government has announced plans for a national register that will let people block gambling advertising. Communications Minister Anika Wells introduced the legislation in the House of Representatives on August 17, 2026.
The register is part of a wider deal between the government and the Coalition to pass new gambling advertising laws this week. The plan also includes limits on high risk inducements offered by betting companies.
A new levy on sports betting companies will help pay for the register’s rollout. Because the levy raises revenue, it needs separate legislation from the rest of the reform package.
Wells said the changes respond to evidence from a recent Senate inquiry. She said inducements linked to wagering can encourage gambling and cause harm.
New Limits on TV, Radio and Online Ads
Under the plan, television networks would be limited to three gambling ads per hour between 6 am and 8:30 pm. Ads would be banned entirely during live sport, except for breaks after 8:30 pm.
Online platforms would only be able to show gambling promotions if they meet a “triple lock” system. This includes a login profile, age verification, and an option to opt out of ads.
Radio stations would face bans on gambling ads during school drop off and pick up times. Rules for ads during children’s programming would move from industry codes into law.
Streaming services such as 9Now and 7plus would fall under the same rules that already apply to free to air television.
Celebrities and athletes would no longer be allowed to appear in gambling ads or promote odds to sports fans. Influencer marketing, often used to reach younger viewers, would also be restricted.
The proposed laws stop short of the full ban recommended in a 2023 parliamentary report called You Win Some, You Lose More. Both the Coalition and the Greens have said they want stronger measures before supporting the bill in the Senate.
VIP Commissions Could End After Senate Testimony
The reform package may also stop betting companies from paying commissions to VIP account managers. Large companies such as Sportsbet and Tabcorp have already ended this practice, so smaller operators would feel most of the impact.
The change follows a Senate inquiry this month that looked at how high value gamblers were offered inducements. These reportedly included cash, travel and other perks.
Former NRL player Luke Bateman told the inquiry he was invited to VIP events as a young athlete. He said he once took drugs with bookmaker executives at a party on the Gold Coast.
Tabcorp and Sportsbet have both denied the claims made during the inquiry.
Wells said the exclusion register shows the government listened to concerns raised during the Senate hearing. She added that the ban on VIP commissions is expected to be part of the final reform package.
The legislation must still pass through Labor’s caucus and the Senate before becoming law. Lawmakers are expected to keep debating the details this week.
