An Australian parliamentary committee has urged the federal government to effect a ban on advertising for online gambling during sports events within three years. The pleas to implement such a ban came from Australia’s House of Representatives standing committee on social policy and legal affairs.

The recommendation came on the back of what has been described as a crisis threatening the financial and mental health of Australians. So, after an extensive parliamentary inquiry over online gambling in the country, this was just one among the 31 recommendations that the committee suggested for implementation.

An In-Depth Analysis of the Proposed Ban

The proposed ban on gambling ads is poised to take apply to television stations, radio stations, newspapers, and also online media. The report which was dubbed the “ You win some, You lose More” report, also called for a national regulator to be put in place with the sole aim of reducing the harmful consequences that may arise as a result of gambling.

On the proposed ban on gambling ads, the report recommends that the ban be implemented in a phased manner over three years. Ideally, the implementation of the ban would be in four phases. In the first phase, we would see an immediate ban on all forms of gambling inducements such as rewards, credits and so much more. The second phase would then involve a ban on all online forms of gambling advertising and commentary on betting odds. The second phase would also include a ban on all gambling ads in professional sports team stadia, as well as any gambling ads on professional sports players’ jerseys. The third phase would ideally involve banning all broadcast online gambling from 6 am to 10 pm. The fourth and final phase would involve all forms of online gambling and sponsorship being banned by the third year.

The Gambling Problem in Australia

The recommendations given by the Parliamentary Committee chaired by Labor MP Peta Murphy are among the harshest ever proposed in the global gambling sector. During the release of the report, the member of parliament noted that Australians are some of the worst gambling losers you are likely to come across. And while efforts have previously been made to mend the glaring problem, she feels that a more direct approach needs to be taken in this case. She further opined;

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“ People don’t like it- they feel they're inundated with advertising, they are concerned that children are exposed and exposed regularly to ads for sports betting...There’s a concern that we are producing if we haven’t already produced, another generation of Australians who see sports and betting as intrinsically linked, and sport as a vehicle for which betting can occur.”

The Labor MP makes a good point, although there are some sorts of restrictions on ads in gambling already in place. For instance, gambling adverts currently cannot air within five minutes of a sports event starting or finishing. This rule however has some exceptions when it comes to breaks, or those sporting events that last over long periods like golf or cricket. With such measures and others that already exist, the report still finds that Australian citizens spend the most money on online gambling in the world. Murphy commented that there was clear damage online gambling ads have posed to society. She went on to say:

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“Australia would be diminished if the sport was to be captured by gambling revenue that providing an opportunity for betting came to be seen as its primary purpose.”

Other Key Recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee

The ban on gambling ads was just one of the proposals forwarded by the parliamentary Committee. First things first, the report called for good tact when dealing with the gambling problems being faced in Australia. To do this, it recommends that a national strategy for online gambling harm reduction be introduced within the next 12 months. The committee also proposed the establishment of a national online gambling regulator as well as a national online gambling ombudsman, in a bid to enforce some structure to deal with the apparent problems of a seemingly unstructured sector. The seriousness of the issue is so pertinent, that the committee also called for a specific minister to be assigned the role of reducing online gambling harm to the general Australian population.

Furthermore, the report also calls for the establishment of a levy on online gambling to cut down on problem gambling cases in the country. Additionally, there is a recommendation for some stringent regulations touching on operators and their conduct. For example, the report proposes to enforce a ban on staffers receiving commissions for online gambling referrals. Should the proposals be implemented, online gambling companies in Australia will also be required to disclose non-identifying customer data on participation and risk indicators. Payment methods that do not discourage gambling will also be banned should the proposals see the light of day. As MP Murphy sees it:

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“We need to remove some of the stigma and blame that’s put on people in order to help people to seek assistance. A national strategy needs to look at prevention- so education, early intervention, measures that make it easier for people to stop gambling if they’re experiencing harm- and then better, more comprehensive treatment.”

Well, while drastic measures may need to be implemented there is still need to tread careful so as not to infringe on the autonomy of responsible gamblers and the nation's gambling market.