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Australia passes gambling reform bill with advertising and sponsorship restrictions

Regulation

Australia's parliament passed the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026 on 20 August 2026 after the government reached an agreement with the Liberal National Coalition. The reforms limit television gambling advertising, ban gambling operators from sports shirts and stadiums, prohibit celebrity endorsements and establish an opt-out register for online gambling ads. Rod Glover said the package fell short of recommendations for a full advertising and inducements ban.

The changes introduce new advertising and sponsorship restrictions for gambling operators in Australia.

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Regulation

Australian government introduces gambling advertising reform bill amid criticism

The federal government introduced its Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026 in Australia this week, proposing limits on gambling advertising. The bill would cap television ads at three per hour from 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., ban ads during live sports and restrict online advertising to users under 18; the measures are scheduled to begin on 1 January 2027. Coalition and Greens MPs have called for stronger restrictions, while Communications Minister Anika Wells defended the proposal and said she wants it passed quickly.

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