The Government must step-in to urgently close a loophole that is allowing Disney to exploit a loophole in our laws and stream gambling ads during kids viewing times.
Disney, the organisation that has created much loved children’s programming for decades, is now airing gambling ads through ESPN which it is streaming through its Disney+ platform.
ABC’s Media Watch exposed the loophole on its program aired November 10.
Several years ago ESPN (when it was carried by Foxtel) was given an exemption to the laws that protect children from gambling advertising because it was deemed to have too low an audience. But now Disney is using this loophole to bombard us with gambling ads at times when they are rightly banned on other networks.
Disney+ reportedly has 3.3m viewers in Australia.
“This loophole makes a farce of the law and the government or the regulator, ACMA, must act immediately to close it. Everyday they delay is a day that our kids are being exposed to gambling advertising,” CEO of the Alliance for Gambling Reform, Martin Thomas, said.
“It is inconceivable that Disney, which gave us Cinderella and the Lion King is now streaming gambling advertising when kids are watching (5.00am to 8.30pm).
The Alliance is calling on the Communications Minister Anika Wells to act immediately to close this loophole.
Australia loses more than $32 billion to gambling – more than any other country in the world on a per capita basis
“And now gambling companies are going after our kids, they are grooming them to gamble through the sponsorship of sports and there is also evidence they are targeting kids as young as 14 to download gambling apps on social media, Mr Thomas said.
Almost one in three (30%) 12-17 year olds gamble and this spirals to almost half (46%) of 18-19 year olds who are betting $213 million every year, according to new research by the Australia Institute.
“It is both alarming and tragic to understand that the number of teenagers gambling under the legal age would fill the MCG six times over.”
The Murphy inquiry into online gambling, chaired by the late Labor MP, Peta Murphy, and unanimously supported by inquiry members from both sides of politics, found that: “The inescapable torrent of gambling advertising was normalising online gambling and its links with sport, grooming children and young people to gamble, and encouraging riskier behaviour”.
The inquiry recommended that a total ban on all forms of advertising for online gambling was needed to prevent young people being exposed to gambling ads and the exploitation of loopholes across current legislation.
About us:
The Alliance for Gambling Reform is a national advocacy organisation working to reduce gambling harm in Australia. We partner with other organisations and with local councils to reduce the alarming level of gambling harm in Australia, we work to change the laws and rules governing the gambling industry. We do not seek to ban gambling. Rather we seek to influence government to minimise the harmful behaviours of the gambling industry and to give voice to those who are impacted by gambling harm.
Contact details:
Martin Thomas (CEO) is available for interview on 0477 340 704