The Albanese Government has delivered historic reforms that will provide strong protections against online gambling harms for all Australians, particularly children and young people.
The Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026, which has passed Parliament, will substantially reduce wagering advertising across television, radio and online and minimise children's exposure to gambling ads.
It includes tough new restrictions to protect vulnerable customers from inducements, cracks down on illegal gambling operators, strengthens BetStop - the National Self Exclusion Register - better defines and regulates trade promotions services and bans online keno "pocket pokies" and foreign-matched lotteries.
Key reforms include:
- banning wagering advertising during live coverage of sporting events on broadcast and online content services, with the restrictions commencing 15 minutes before and ending 5 minutes after a live sporting event between 5am and 8.30pm
- banning wagering advertising in sports venues and on players' and officials' uniforms
- banning the use of athletes, celebrities or influencers to promote wagering
- restricting wagering advertising on TV to no more than three ads each hour between 5am and 8.30pm
- banning wagering ads on the radio during school drop-off and pick‑up times
- banning the broadcasting of promoting sporting odds
- banning wagering ads through online platforms, unless people have a logged in account, are over 18 and have the option to opt out of wagering advertising
- establishing a Wagering Advertising Opt-out Register as a one-stop shop for people to opt out across all their services
- allowing banks and payment systems to block transactions to illegal gambling operators and giving the Australian Communications and Media Authority more powers to act faster to block these websites
- banning online keno "pocket pokies" and foreign-matched lotteries
- banning the direct marketing of inducements for 14 days after signing up with a wagering company, three months after a person deregisters from BetStop, and to all customers identified as at risk of gambling-related harm.
The Bill also introduces reforms to further strengthen BetStop, based on the outcomes of the recent statutory review, recognising the critical role it plays for vulnerable Australians in self-excluding from gambling.
Also passed, the National Self-Exclusion Register (Cost Recovery Levy) Bill 2026 and the Interactive Gambling (Cost Recovery Levy) Bill 2026, which ensure the costs associated with the opt-out register, new restrictions on inducements and promotion of BetStop can be recovered from gambling companies.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Communications, Anika Wells:
"The Albanese Government is delivering the strongest ever laws to tackle gambling harm as part of a comprehensive and balanced package.
"These laws deliver meaningful protections for Australians experiencing gambling-related harm, including relief from the bombardment of wagering advertisements in sport and strong restrictions on predatory inducements.
"We are also cracking down on illegal gambling operators and other dodgy services that divert business from genuine lotteries and charities.
"We have worked across Parliament to deliver a balanced, practical and enforceable package of gambling reforms - the most significant in Australia's history."
