Australia Tightens Rules on Betting Advertisements
Last update: April 2, 2026
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New rules limit betting ads on airwaves and sports broadcasts to reduce exposure, especially among children.
Australia will restrict betting advertisements in a bid to curb rising gambling losses, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Thursday.
Sports betting promotions have become widespread across the country’s media, encouraging wagers on activities ranging from surfing to greyhound racing.
Australians record some of the highest gambling losses per adult globally, with about 17 billion dollars lost annually across a population of roughly 27 million people.
Under the new measures, betting agencies will be limited to three advertisements per hour between 6:00 am and 8:30 pm.
Advertisements will be completely banned during live sports broadcasts within those hours, while wagering companies will no longer be allowed to display their brands on uniforms worn by professional teams.
Gambling advertisements will also be prohibited on radio during school drop off and pick up periods.
Speaking in Canberra, Albanese said the policy aims to strike a balance between allowing adults to gamble and protecting children from constant exposure to betting content.
He stressed that children should not grow up believing that sports and gambling are inseparably linked.
However, the move has drawn criticism from reform advocates who are pushing for a complete ban on betting advertisements.
In 2024, dozens of prominent Australians, including former prime minister John Howard, called for gambling ads to be phased out entirely within three years, warning of the widespread social harm caused by mounting gambling losses.
