Alliance for Gambling Reform proposes federal age checks for betting services
Regulation1 min read
The Alliance for Gambling Reform proposed federal age-assurance rules for wagering services during a Senate committee hearing on 10 November, as it reviewed the Online Safety Amendment (Digital Duty of Care) Bill 2026. The group wants betting services included in age checks and material encouraging children to bet treated as harmful under the bill.
Federal law should require age verification for wagering services, the Alliance for Gambling Reform says. Its chief executive Sunita Bose and advocate Mark Kempster appeared before the Senate Environment and Communication Legislation Committee, which convened on 10 November to examine the Online Safety Amendment (Digital Duty of Care) Bill 2026.
Bose said wagering services should be included in age-assurance requirements to prevent children accessing them. The alliance is concerned that children could use an adult's betting account after registration. Its second proposal would treat material or conduct encouraging a child to bet unlawfully as harmful to children under the bill.
The bill would impose a duty on platforms, games and AI services to reduce online harms for under-18s. The alliance said the bill, introduced to Parliament on 15 October 2026, would set minimum online safety standards and require services to protect under-18s from harmful material, conduct and features.