Australians Overwhelmingly Support Ban on Gambling Ads

A massive 70% of Australians desire a television free from gambling advertisements, a recent survey reveals.

The Australia Institute, a prominent research organization, polled over 1,000 Australians from diverse backgrounds. Participants were questioned about prohibiting various advertisement categories, and a mere 11% opposed a gambling ad ban.

Widespread agreement appears to exist – across genders and generations – with approximately 70% supporting a ban. Notably, older individuals hold even stronger convictions on this issue.

This matter is particularly relevant with the imminent Aussie Rules Football Finals. Ongoing discussions revolve around the existing regulations governing the timing and placement of gambling advertisements.

Victorian Member of Parliament, Zoe Daniel, spearheads the movement to curb these promotions. She advocates for stricter regulations and a reevaluation of sports betting advertising strategies. Of particular concern to Daniel is the level of integration between gambling ads and sports, especially Aussie Rules and Rugby League, both immensely popular in Australia. She argues that this normalization of gambling poses a risk, particularly to young people.

A significant issue arises when young people discuss accumulator bets, attempt to download sports wagering applications, and even place stakes on national elections.”

The deluge of gaming promotions is unavoidable, with Nielsen studies indicating that in 2021 alone, the Australian gaming sector expended almost 287.2 million Australian dollars (equivalent to 196.9 million US dollars) on marketing. This worrisome pattern was emphasized in a study that also investigated the promotional strategies employed to advertise tobacco, non-nutritious food and beverages, alcoholic drinks, and fossil fuels.