The Social Policy and Legal Affairs committee has tabled the report of its inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on those experiencing gambling harm.

Media release issue date: Wednesday, 28 June 2023

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs has today tabled the report of its inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on those experiencing gambling harm. Chair of the Committee, Ms Peta Murphy MP, said ‘Australians are the biggest losers in the world when it comes to gambling. We have a culture where sport and gambling are intrinsically linked. These behaviours are causing increasingly widespread and serious harm to individuals, families, and communities.’ The report provides 31 recommendations that apply a public health lens to online gambling to reduce harm to Australians. This includes the Australian Government developing and implementing a comprehensive national strategy on online gambling harm reduction, supported by national regulation, an online gambling ombudsman, a harm reduction levy on online wagering service providers (WSPs), a public education campaign, more independent research and improved data collection. Ms Murphy said, ‘Gambling advertising and simulated gambling through video games, is grooming children and young people to gamble and encourages riskier behaviour. The torrent of advertising is inescapable. It is manipulating an impressionable and vulnerable audience to gamble online.’ ‘A phased, comprehensive ban on online gambling advertising is recommended within three years. This will give major sports and broadcasters time to find alternative advertisers and sponsors, while preventing another generation from experiencing escalating gambling harm.’ Ms Murphy said. ‘The Committee has also recommended stronger consumer protections for licenced online gambling, including a requirement for WSPs to verify their customer’s identity before accepting bets from them, a ban on inducements and a legislated duty of care. We have also called for a crackdown on illegal gambling websites.’ ‘Currently our support services, where they are appropriately targeted, are overwhelmed. We have recommended a range of measures to improve the availability and adequacy of the support and treatment available to those experiencing gambling harm, and to reduce stigma which is currently preventing many from seeking help.’ Ms Murphy said. Ms Murphy added, ‘The Committee supports the Australian Government’s proposed changes to the classification system to reduce the risk of harm from social casinos and loot box features in interactive games. We have recommended the classification scheme be consistently applied across online app stores, that a simulated gambling warning label be developed, that minimum consumer protections be applied to games and better education for young people, parents, caregivers and teachers about simulated gambling.’ The report, You win some, you lose more, and the Committee’s complete list of recommendations can be accessed via the inquiry website. Ms Murphy will launch the report at a press conference at 9.30 am AEST on Wednesday, 28 June 2023 at the Melbourne CPO, 4 Treasury Place, East Melbourne, Victoria. Journalists will need to show their credentials on arrival. Media enquiries Ms Peta Murphy MP Peta.Murphy.MP@aph.gov.au 03 9781 2333 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 2358 spla.reps@aph.gov.au

The House Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs will hold public hearings on Tuesday, 4 April and Wednesday, 5 April 2023 as part of its inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on those experiencing gambling harm.

Media release issue date: Monday, 3 April 2023

The House Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs will hold public hearings on Tuesday, 4 April and Wednesday, 5 April 2023 as part of its inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on those experiencing gambling harm. Chair of the Committee, Ms Peta Murphy MP, said “On Tuesday, we will question Sportsbet, Tabcorp and Entain (operator of brands Ladbrokes and Neds), and the peak industry body Responsible Wagering Australia, about whether industry is doing enough to limit the harm of online gambling in the Australian community.” “Research released last week by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) shows that Australians support greater restrictions on gambling advertising, and that gambling advertising encourages people to gamble and to do so in more risky ways.” “The AFL and NRL are major beneficiaries of sports betting, including through sponsorship and advertising, and receiving a proportion of each bet placed on their games. The Committee is interested in hearing how this aligns with the promotion of their codes as family-friendly and socially responsible organisations.” Ms Murphy said. Also appearing on 4 April are the Australian Banking Association, the Australian Lottery and Newsagents Association, The Lottery Corporation, the Department of Social Services, the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, and the Australian Communications and Media Authority. On Wednesday, 5 March, the Committee will hear from the AIFS about their new research findings. Programs for the Committee’s upcoming hearings are available on the inquiry website here. The hearings will be live streamed on the APH website: www.aph.gov.au/live. Public hearing details Date: Tuesday, 4 April 2023 Time: 8:30am to 4:00pm AEST Location: Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra and via videoconference Date: Wednesday, 5 April 2023 Time: 2:00pm to 2:50pm AEST Location: Via videoconference Further information about the inquiry, including published submissions, hearing dates and transcripts, are available on the inquiry webpage. Media inquiries Ms Peta Murphy MP Peta.Murphy.MP@aph.gov.au 03 9781 2333 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 2358 spla.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website: www.aph.gov.au/spla. On the site, you can track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

The House Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs will hold public hearings on Tuesday, 28 February and Wednesday, 1 March 2023 as part of its inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on those experiencing gambling harm.

Media release issue date: Monday, 27 February 2023

The House Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs will hold public hearings on Tuesday, 28 February and Wednesday, 1 March 2023 as part of its inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on those experiencing gambling harm. Chair of the Committee, Ms Peta Murphy MP, said ‘on Tuesday, we will hear from researchers and state and territory governments about the effectiveness of current online gambling harm minimisation measures, and new approaches that may be necessary to reduce harm.’ ‘We have heard strong evidence calling for further restrictions on gambling advertising, and state and territory governments have suggested they are open to considering further reforms to limit the exposure of children and young people to gambling advertising. Further restrictions on gambling advertising are opposed by broadcasters, such as Commercial Radio and Audio, who will also be appearing on Tuesday,’ Ms Murphy said. On Wednesday, 1 March, the Committee will scrutinise the current regulation of simulated gambling and gambling-like activities in interactive games, as well as the effectiveness of current counselling and support services to address online gambling harm. Ms Murphy said, ‘There is growing concern in Australia, and internationally, about the increasing accessibility of loot boxes in video games and social casino games on mobile devices and their potential to introduce children and young people to features that resemble gambling.’ ‘The Committee will hear from researchers and industry about these games and whether changes to legislation or the classification system are required to reduce the risks of harm to children and young people,’ Ms Murphy said. ‘On Wednesday, the Committee will also hear from counselling and support services to learn more about the effectiveness of current gambling services and barriers to seeking help. This evidence will be critical to the Committee making practical and informed recommendations to ensure that people are able to access the help they need, when they need it,’ Ms Murphy said. Programs for the Committee’s upcoming hearings are available on the inquiry website here. The hearings will be live streamed on the APH website: www.aph.gov.au/live. Public hearing details Date: Tuesday, 28 February 2023 Time: 9:10am to 4:10pm AEDT Location: Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra Date: Wednesday, 1 March 2023 Time: 8:30am to 4:10pm AEDT Location: Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra Further information about the inquiry, including published submissions, hearing dates and transcripts, are available on the inquiry webpage. Media inquiries Ms Peta Murphy MP Peta.Murphy.MP@aph.gov.au 03 9781 2333 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 2358 spla.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website: www.aph.gov.au/spla. On the site, you can track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track this Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs will examine the effectiveness of current restrictions on gambling advertising and the promotion of online gambling at a public hearing as part of its inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on those experiencing gambling harm.

Media release issue date: Thursday, 9 February 2023

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs will examine the effectiveness of current restrictions on gambling advertising and the promotion of online gambling at a public hearing on Friday, 10 February 2023, as part of its inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on those experiencing gambling harm. Chair of the Committee, Ms Peta Murphy MP, said ‘The Committee has received a lot of evidence about the strong and growing public support for increased restrictions on advertising, marketing and promotion of online gambling products. Research presented to us indicates that saturation advertising increases online gambling harm and normalises gambling for children and young people.’ ‘The Committee will hear from public health experts and peak bodies, advertising industry representatives and broadcasters about whether the current regulatory system is meeting changing community expectations,’ Ms Murphy said. The Committee is considering whether current consumer protections around online gambling are enough to reduce harm. Ms Murphy said, ‘We will also hear from individuals who have experienced gambling harm about the inducements and VIP offers they received despite their efforts to self exclude and opt out of marketing communications from online gambling operators.’ Public hearing details Date: Friday, 10 February 2023 Time: 9.10am to 4.30pm AEDT Location: Committee Room 1R3, Parliament House, Canberra and via videoconference Live stream: www.aph.gov.au/live Program (all times AEDT): 9.10am–9.50am: Mr Aaron Smith 9.50am–10.30am: Mr Mark Kempster 10.40am–11.20am: Suicide Prevention Australia 11.20am–12.00pm: Australian Health Promotion Association 12.40pm–1.20pm: Free TV Australia 1.20pm–2.00pm: SBS 2.10pm–2.50pm: Professor Samantha Thomas, Dr Hannah Pitt and Dr Simone McCarthy 2.50pm–3.50pm: Ad Standards; Australian Association of National Advertisers 3.50pm–4.30pm: Emeritus Professor Mike Daube 4.30pm: Close Further information about the inquiry, including published submissions, hearing dates and transcripts, are available on the inquiry webpage. Media inquiries Ms Peta Murphy MP Peta.Murphy.MP@aph.gov.au 03 9781 2333 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 2358 spla.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website: www.aph.gov.au/spla. On the site, you can track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track this Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page. 

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs will hear from the Alliance for Gambling Reform and people with lived experience of gambling harm at a public hearing on Monday, 5 December 2022. The hearing will be held remotely as part of the Committee’s inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on those experiencing gambling harm.

Media release issue date: Friday, 2 December 2022

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs will hear from the Alliance for Gambling Reform and people with lived experience of gambling harm at a public hearing on Monday, 5 December 2022. The hearing will be held remotely as part of the Committee’s inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on those experiencing gambling harm. Chair of the Committee, Ms Peta Murphy MP, said ‘the hearing will be an opportunity for the Committee to question the Alliance about the significant reforms it has recommended to reduce gambling harm, including banning the broadcast of gambling advertisements and introducing national gambling regulation and a national regulator.’ In its submission to the inquiry, the Alliance for Gambling Reform said, ‘for too long governments and community leaders have been happy to turn a blind eye to gambling harm, buying the gambling industry line that gambling only impacts a small minority of people who should be more responsible for their own actions.’ Ms Murphy said, ‘the Committee will also hear personal stories from the Voices for Gambling Reform network that demonstrate the significant harms online gambling is causing in the Australian community under the current regulatory framework.’ ‘Understanding the stories of people with lived experience of gambling harm is crucial to ensuring the Committee’s recommendations are effective,’ Ms Murphy said.   The Committee will conduct further public hearings in early 2023. Submissions to the inquiry closed on 11 November 2022, however late submissions will still be considered. Public hearing details Date: Monday, 5 December 2022 Time: 10:00am to 12:00pm AEDT Location: Remote via audio broadcast at aph.gov.au/live Witnesses: Alliance for Gambling Reform; Voices for Gambling Reform. Further information about the inquiry, including published submissions, hearing dates and transcripts, are available on the inquiry webpage. Media inquiries Ms Peta Murphy MP Peta.Murphy.MP@aph.gov.au 03 9781 2333 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 2358 spla.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website: www.aph.gov.au/spla. On the site, you can track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs has today launched an inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on people with gambling problems.

Media release issue date: Thursday, 15 September 2022

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs has today launched an inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on people with gambling problems. Chair of the Committee, Ms Peta Murphy MP, said ‘the inquiry will be a fresh look at online gambling and whether current laws, regulations, consumer protections and education and support programs are enough to reduce harm to gamblers.’ ‘The Committee is concerned about the increasing reach of online gambling platforms into Australians’ lives, the exposure of children and young people to gambling advertising and how this may contribute to increases in problem gambling in the future,’ Ms Murphy said. The Committee is seeking written submissions, ideally of no more than ten pages, from individuals and organisations providing recommendations relating to any or all of the inquiry terms of reference by 11 November 2022. Ms Murphy added, ‘If you want to tell your story but have concerns about your privacy, you can ask for your submission to be published without your name, or for your submission to be received confidentially and not published by the Committee’. The Committee will examine: the effectiveness of existing consumer protections aimed at reducing online problem gambling how to better target programs to address online problem gambling to reduce the potential exploitation of at-risk people, and protect individuals, families and communities the effectiveness of current counselling and support services to address online problem gambling the quality of and access to protective online gambling education programs the impact of current regulatory and licensing regimes for online gambling on the effectiveness of harm minimisation and consumer protection efforts the appropriateness of the definition of ‘gambling service’ in the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (Cth), and whether it should be amended to capture additional gambling-like activities such as simulated gambling in video games (e.g. ‘loot boxes’ and social casino games) the appropriateness of current gambling regulations in light of emerging technologies, payment options and products the effectiveness of protections against illegal online gambling services, including casino style gambling such as online blackjack and slot machines the effectiveness of current gambling advertising restrictions on limiting children’s exposure to gambling products and services (e.g. promotion of betting odds during live sport broadcasts), including consideration of the impact of advertising through social media, sponsorship or branding from online licenced gambling operators, and any other related matters. Further information about the inquiry, including published submissions and hearing transcripts, will be available on the inquiry webpage. Media inquiries Ms Peta Murphy MP Peta.Murphy.MP@aph.gov.au 03 9781 2333 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 2358 spla.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website: www.aph.gov.au/spla. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.