The proposed overhaul of gambling advertising laws in Australia has met with significant political resistance, and MPs from the Coalition Party and the Green Party have joined forces to argue that These laws are not enough to address the harms associated with gambling.
The federal government’s Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026 was introduced this week, but instead of providing a smooth legislative path, the legislation has instead sparked demands for a Senate investigation and calls for tighter restrictions from across the political spectrum.
The bill comes three years after a parliamentary inquiry led by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy recommended a much broader approach, including the complete removal of gambling advertising. Instead, Current proposals focus on additional restrictionsincluding a limit of three gambling adverts per hour on television between 6am and 8.30pm, a ban on gambling adverts during live sports broadcasts, and tighter controls on online adverts targeting minors.
Call for Stronger Action from Coalition MPs
At least six Liberal MPs raised concerns in a party room meeting on Tuesday, with some arguing the government’s proposals did not go far enough to address the harms of gambling. Among them, MP Simon Kennedy highlighted personal experiences with gambling addiction, explaining how he attended Gamblers Anonymous meetings with his former teacher.
Kennedy said gambling “has moved from entertainment to industrial-scale impact for many Australians,” and describes the law as “losing to the gambling lobby.”
He added that The bill falls short in several key areas, including enticement, advertising restrictions, and protections for younger audiences.
Andrew Wallace, another Liberal MP, also argued the law did not go far enough. He pointed to previous Coalition proposals under former opposition leader Peter Dutton, which included banning gambling adverts one hour before and after sporting matches, suggesting the approach would be stricter.
Wallace described the current bill as having a devastating impact “so many holes through it” and call it a “A half-assed way of addressing the detrimental impact of gambling on Australians.”
Green Party Demands Investigation and Stronger Protections
The Green Party also voiced strong opposition, with communications spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young calling the legislation inadequate and pushing for it to be referred to a Senate committee for further review.
According to The Sydney Morning-Herald, Hanson-Young said the reforms did not reflect the findings of Murphy’s report and argued the government had failed to act on experts’ recommendations. He described the proposal as a “half-measures that will not protect the family” and urges the government to do so "growing the spine” and take a stronger stance against gambling companies and media organizations that profit from advertising revenue.
Independent lawmakers have also joined in the criticism, with concerns raised that the law has been shaped too much by industry stakeholders rather than aiming to reduce harm to society.
Government Maintains Reform Package
Communications Minister Anika Wells defended the law and described it as a “a very significant package” developed over several years of consultation. He emphasized that the government’s priority is implementation rather than further delays.
Wells argued that additional investigations risk slowing down much-discussed reforms. The government targets these measures to take effect from January 1, 2027.
Despite defending the bill, he acknowledged that views in parliament and industry were still very different, especially regarding the scale and timing of restrictions.
With signals of opposition from the Coalition and Greens, the bill is now likely to face a Senate inquiry during the parliamentary break. The process could delay the bill’s passage further, especially as lawmakers from various parties also consider potential amendments.
The law would impose restrictions on television, radio, online platforms and sports venues, including a ban on celebrity endorsements and advertising during live sports broadcasts. It also includes provisions targeting online betting promotions and introduces changes to wider gambling marketing practices.
However, critics argue that the package still falls short of the full advertising ban recommended in the previous parliamentary review, leaving its final form uncertain as negotiations continue.
