Key Takeaways
- Online keno will be completely prohibited, and gambling advertisements during live sporting events will face severe limitations starting January 2027
- Betting advertisements will be removed from sporting facilities, team apparel, and prohibited on radio during morning and afternoon school commute hours
- Digital platforms must implement user authentication, age verification, and opt-out mechanisms before displaying gambling promotions
- The ACMA will receive enhanced authority to shut down unauthorized gambling websites, as the illicit market is forecast to reach A$5 billion by 2029
- Political opponents and independent legislators have condemned the measures as “cowardly,” “terrible,” and “pathetic”
The federal government of Australia has announced a comprehensive gambling reform initiative scheduled to begin in January 2027. This legislative package represents the government’s formal answer to a parliamentary investigation overseen by the late Peta Murphy, who passed away in 2023.
The investigation, commonly referred to as the Murphy’s Law inquiry, examined 161 written submissions, 26 pieces of evidence, and conducted 13 public testimony sessions. The final report carried the title “You win some, you lose more.”
These regulatory changes will be implemented via modifications to the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. The amendments address promotional activities, internet-based lottery offerings, regulatory enforcement, and assistance programs.
Severe Restrictions Imposed on Betting Promotions
Among the most significant modifications are restrictions on wagering promotions during live sporting broadcasts. Advertisements will be prohibited from 6:00 am through 8:30 pm, extending to five minutes on either side of gameplay.
Betting promotions will additionally be eliminated from athletic facilities and player uniforms. Existing sponsorship agreements will be permitted to conclude naturally before enforcement begins.
Television broadcasters will face a maximum of three gambling advertisements hourly during restricted periods. Radio broadcasters must avoid wagering promotions during morning drop-off and afternoon pickup times at schools.
Digital platforms will be required to implement what authorities describe as “triple lock” safeguards. Users must authenticate their accounts, complete age verification showing they’re 18 or older, and receive opt-out options before encountering gambling advertisements.
These regulations seek to minimize exposure among minors and at-risk populations.
Complete Prohibition of Online Keno
Authorities have decided to completely prohibit online keno. Government representatives stated the game permits players to wager as much as AU$1,000 every three minutes, presenting substantial dangers because of its accelerated gameplay.
Data from Queensland Treasury revealed Australians forfeited over AU$32 billion through legal gambling in 2023-24. This translates to an average of AU$1,521 per adult, representing the world’s highest per-person gambling losses.
Trade promotional lotteries and internationally-matched lottery products will also encounter stricter nationwide regulations. Charitable lottery operations, which generate revenue for purposes such as medical research, receive distinct treatment under these reforms.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority will gain expanded capabilities to obstruct unauthorized gambling platforms and financial transfers connected to them. Projections suggest Australia’s gambling underground market may expand to A$5 billion by 2029.
BetStop, the nationwide self-exclusion registry, will receive additional support. An assessment discovered over 53,000 Australians had enrolled since its introduction.
Financial counseling resources will be doubled. Authorities also intend to launch a public education initiative focused on vulnerable demographics, particularly young men.
The reform package has attracted fierce opposition from various quarters. ACT Senator David Pocock characterized the response as “both cowardly and disrespectful.” He criticized the government for announcing it during budget week to minimize examination.
Independent MP Andrew Wilkie described it as “terrible.” WA’s Kate Chaney rejected it as “pathetic,” contending that incomplete prohibitions merely redistribute expenditures.
Chaney referenced the Ladbrokes and Neds situation, where the ACMA discovered over 500 violations of national self-exclusion regulations by parent corporation Entain. Accounts were established and wagers were processed despite gamblers being registered on the exclusion list.
Entain was mandated into a corrective program but avoided financial penalties. Chaney argued this demonstrated Australia requires a national gambling oversight body with genuine enforcement capabilities.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese supported the reforms, stating they achieved appropriate equilibrium between adult freedom and youth protection. “They will make a meaningful difference,” he informed parliament.
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