The Albanese Government is delivering robust protections from the harms of gambling for Australians, particularly for children and young people.
The Government introduced the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026 to Parliament today, containing the strongest ever reforms to address gambling harms in Australia's history.
The Bill delivers on the Albanese Government's commitment to break the connection between gambling and sport, minimising children's exposure to wagering advertising and stopping the saturation of wagering ads on radio, TV and online.
The reforms include:
- restricting gambling advertising on TV to no more than three ads each hour between 6am and 8.30pm, with a complete ban during live sport broadcasts within those hours
- banning gambling ads through online platforms, unless people have a logged in account, are over 18 and have the option to opt out of gambling advertising
- banning gambling ads on the radio during school drop-off and pick-up times
- banning the use of athletes, celebrities or influencers to promote wagering
- banning the broadcasting of ads promoting sporting odds
- banning gambling ads in sports venues and on players' and officials' uniforms.
The Bill also cracks down on illegal gambling operators by allowing banks and payment systems to block transactions and gives the Australian Communications and Media Authority more powers to act faster to block these websites.
As part of the reforms, online keno "pocket pokies" and foreign matched lotteries will be banned.
The Bill will also better define and regulate trade promotions services to protect Australians from dodgy operators, as well as small businesses like newsagencies and genuine lotteries and charities that give back to the community.
The Bill also introduces reforms to further strengthen BetStop, recognising the critical role it plays for vulnerable Australians in self-excluding from gambling.
The National Self-Exclusion Register (Cost Recovery Levy) Bill 2026, which was also introduced today ensures the costs of strengthening BetStop, including raising awareness of the register, can be recovered from gambling companies.
This was a key recommendation of the Statutory Review of BetStop and will help drive uptake of this essential service, which already has more than 65,400 registrations, as at the end of June.
The reforms are also backed by more funding for financial counselling for gambling and a new public awareness campaign.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Communications, Anika Wells:
"Australians love their sport, and they should be able to sit down and enjoy it with their families without being bombarded by gambling advertising and betting odds.
"These reforms break the connection between sport and wagering, minimising kids' exposure to gambling ads and reducing their saturation on TV, radio and online.
"We are also acting to protect people, businesses, genuine lotteries and charities from new and emerging threats through these substantial changes.
"We have consulted widely to ensure we get the balance right to deliver these meaningful and significant changes to reduce gambling harm."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Social Service, Tanya Plibersek:
"Gambling harm touches too many Australian lives and we know its impact does not stop with the person who is gambling.
"For every person experiencing gambling harm, around six others - family, friends, workmates and loved ones - can feel the effects through financial pressure, stress and strained relationships.
"These reforms are about reducing that harm, and making sure children grow up loving sport for the game - not seeing gambling as an essential part of it.
"Last month's Budget also backed in more support, with funding to double the number of people we can help through gambling financial counselling, and a new campaign so more Australians know about gambling harms and where to get help."
