A new study by Freshwater Strategy shows that most Australians favor moderate restrictions on online gambling ads rather than a complete ban.
The survey found that 56% of respondents support targeted and reasonable restrictions on gambling ads, while only 37% favor a total ban.
Australians' main concerns about gambling ads are reducing children's exposure to gambling ads (37%) and protecting vulnerable groups (26%).
This finding is consistent with previous results from the Australian Financial Review (AFR) Freshwater opinion poll, where 70% of voters expressed a preference for limiting the frequency and timing of gambling ads on television rather than an outright ban.
The debate over gambling ads in Australia is intensifying, with the Gambling Reform Alliance recently sending an open letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and opposition leader Peter Dutton, urging a ban on gambling ads.
The letter, signed by 60 prominent figures including former prime ministers and sports personalities, calls for the implementation of 31 recommendations from the Murphy Report aimed at curbing the impact of gambling ads, particularly those targeting children, and limiting temptations for vulnerable gamblers.
In response, Kai Cantwell, CEO of Responsible Gambling Australia, said: "We know that when people are faced with an all-or-nothing choice, they opt for the ban, but when faced with reasonable, evidence-based alternatives, such as our terms and age verification requirements, most people choose the alternative."
Cantwell added: "Banning online ads will not stop Australians from gambling; it will only push them towards illegal offshore providers who lure customers with high bonuses and then fail to pay out winnings or provide any safer gambling tools."
He warned that over-regulation could create a vacuum that unregulated operators would fill, particularly with predatory advertising targeting children and vulnerable groups.
Furthermore, Cantwell noted that licensed operators contribute significant tax revenue that supports essential services such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure. On the other hand, illegal operators evade taxes, costing the Australian economy billions of dollars each year.
As the debate continues, the Australian government faces the challenge of balancing the protection of vulnerable citizens with maintaining a legal, regulated gambling industry that contributes to the national economy.
