The Australian Government recently announced that it will introduce changes to ban gambling advertisements during live sports programs before 8.30 pm. These changes will apply on commercial television, commercial radio, subscription television, SBS and online platforms.

Gambling advertisements will not be able to be shown from five minutes before a live sports event commences, during the event and for five minutes after the event has concluded. The restrictions will apply between 5 am and 8.30 pm.

May 06, 2017 Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has confirmed the Government will ban gambling advertising before 8.30pm during live sporting events,. Feb 14, 2018 Gambling adverts telling people to 'bet now' to be banned. Likewise “risk free” offers must incur no loss to the consumer and when it comes to “matched bets”, any stake limitation should be treated as a significant condition and stated upfront, CAP said. Director of the Committees of Advertising Practice, Shahriar Coupal. Mar 30, 2013 Gambling can be fun, stimulate the economy, and create jobs. Because of this, gambling should not be banned.

After 8.30 pm, the existing rules will apply, which allow advertisements in scheduled breaks of play (for example, half-time) or in unscheduled breaks (for example, where play is delayed due to weather). Consistent with current rules, gambling advertisements will not be permitted after 8.30 pm during play, including injury delays or after a goal is scored. The current prohibition on promotion of live odds will remain.

Advertisements for racing and lotteries will continue to be exempt from these restrictions.

Mitch Fifield, the Minister for Communications and the Arts, announced these changes as part of the Australian Government's Broadcast and Content Reform package, which also includes a number of media ownership reforms.

Senator Fifield has announced the Australian Government will consult with industry stakeholders in the coming weeks to discuss the changes and how they can best be implemented. The changes are expected to commence in March 2018.

More information

Media contact:
Fiona Skivington, Manager, Media & Communication
on +61428248931 or fiona.skivington@responsiblegambling.vic.gov.au

Last updated: November 21, 2019

Should gambling be banned or severely restricted? Or should casinos be encouraged?

Gambling Adverts Should Be Banned On Youtube

Gambling adverts should be banned lyrics

Yes because...

To gamble is irrational and reckless. There may be the possibility of winning a big prize, but the ...

To gamble is irrational and reckless. There may be the possibility of winning a big prize, but the overwhelming likelihood is that a gambler will lose money. Casinos calculate their odds so that they will always make a profit. Gambling attracts people with little money who are desperate for a windfall. These are the people who can least afford to lose money. They should be protected from the temptation to gamble. Gambling should be banned, or at least very tightly controlled.

No because...

Gamblers know that, overall, they are likely to lose money. They gamble because it is a leisure pursuit that they enjoy. There is nothing irrational about this. Some people get an enjoyable thrill from the remote possibility that they might win a huge prize – even if they lose, they enjoy the experience. Some forms of gambling are highly sociable. For example, many people go to bingo halls to spend time with friends. Society accepts people spending (“wasting”?) money on other leisure pursuits with no material benefits (e.g. cinema tickets, watching sport) – gambling should not be any different. It is patronising to suggest that people, including those on low incomes, should not be able to choose how they spend their money.

Yes because...

Gambling is addictive. Many people end up gambling to try to recover money they have already lost. ...

Gambling is addictive. Many people end up gambling to try to recover money they have already lost. This is known as ‘chasing losses’. It results in people staking more and more money, most of which they will lose. Gambling addicts often turn to crime to feed their addiction. Addiction is highly damaging to families, since gamblers will spend whatever money they can on gambling. People start to gamble without thinking that they will become addicted. Once they become addicted, it is too late. As with drugs, it is better to ban gambling to stop people getting started in the first place.

No because...

Unlike drugs, gambling is not physically addictive. It is only psychologically addictive in some people. Only a small percentage of gamblers have an addiction. Many more get enjoyment from gambling without problems – why should these people suffer because a few others get addicted? The risks of gambling addiction are well known. People can make a conscious choice to start gambling, and are aware of the risks of addiction. Treatment programmes can address the problems of those who are addicted.

Yes because...

Gambling promotes unhealthy values. It makes people concentrate of winning money. This implies tha...

Gambling promotes unhealthy values. It makes people concentrate of winning money. This implies that they should value material goods above other things like friendships and families. It also sends out the message that success should not necessarily be the result of merit and effort. Instead, governments should promote values like thrift, hard work and self-reliance.

No because...

There is no evidence that gambling makes people not care about others. People do not gamble because they expect to win lots of money. Most gamble as a form of entertainment. There are many areas of life where success is not the result of merit or hard work. Someone born to well-off parents may get many advantages in life without merit or hard work. There are therefore no grounds for thinking that gambling promotes undesirable values.

Yes because...

Casinos are often associated with criminal activity. Drug dealers and prostitutes operate near casi...

Casinos are often associated with criminal activity. Drug dealers and prostitutes operate near casinos – they know that there are a large number of potential clients in the area. Casinos can therefore be devastating to neighbourhoods.

No because...

People committing crimes should be prosecuted. The existence of criminals does not make nearby businesses (including casinos) immoral. It is perverse to punish people who just want to gamble (and not take drugs or use prostitutes) by taking away their chance to do so.

Yes because...

The economic benefits of casinos are exaggerated. They generally only create low-paid jobs for loca...

The economic benefits of casinos are exaggerated. They generally only create low-paid jobs for local people – the casino companies usually bring in managers from elsewhere. There is still considerable unemployment and poverty in places like Atlantic City. The problems associated with casinos (e.g. crime, gambling addiction) outweigh the economic benefits. In any case, an immoral industry is not justified by the fact that it creates employment. Jobs could be created through many other industries that cause fewer moral and practical problems (e.g. theme parks).

No because...

Far from harming neighbourhoods, casinos can revive areas. They create jobs and cause money to be spent on transport infrastructure. The jobs are not just in the casino itself. More jobs are created in hotels and other parts of the tourism industry. Casinos have helped to regenerate many places that previously had considerable poverty and social problems (e.g. Atlantic City in New Jersey).

Gambling Adverts Should Be Banned List

Yes because...

It is immoral for the state or charities to raise money by exploiting people’s stupidity and greed. ...

It is immoral for the state or charities to raise money by exploiting people’s stupidity and greed. Taxing gambling is a regressi