A Senate Inquiry into the Government’s timid gambling reforms creates a ’a golden opportunity’ to strengthen changes, three years after the landmark Murphy Report was delivered to the government.
The Chief Advocate of the Alliance for Gambling Reform, Tim Costello, said claims by the Prime Minister that his government’s reforms in some areas go further than the Murphy Report are misleading.
“The government’s reforms as a whole do nowhere near what the Murphy Report into online gambling recommended – these were a full gambling ad ban, the banning of inducements, the creation of a national gambling regulator and to treat gambling as a public health issue,” Rev. Costello said.
“If the government did anything near this then there would be overwhelming support within the community and the parliament for these changes – but what is proposed is a mere shadow or smokescreen.
“The government’s proposed reforms will not protect children, will not delink sport and wagering and will not end the saturation of media ads that Australian’s are being exposed to every day.”
The CEO of the Alliance for Gambling Reform, Martin Thomas, said new technology is allowing the gambling sector to target underage kids in a way no other generation has been targeted.
“The evidence shows that underage kids as young as 14 are being targeted through social media to download gambling apps, and betting ads are appearing in children’s games and increasingly popular online games are including gambling-type functions. Our kids are also exposed to a tsunami of gambling ads on television and through the sports broadcasts,” Mr Thomas said.
“Tragically this target of our young kids is working with research by the Australia Institute showing more than 600,000 underaged kids (aged 12-17) bet more than $18 million a year.”
Mr Thomas welcomed the push for the government’s reforms to go to a Senate inquiry.
“This is possibly our last, best chance to get strong laws to protect our children and to protect the community,” Mr Thomas said.
“It is a golden opportunity to lock in stronger laws now so that we can stop the gambling industry and the damage it causes our communities.”
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:
The Alliance for Gambling Reform is Available for Interview:
Rev. Tim Costello, Chief Advocate – 0411 633 446
Martin Thomas, CEO – 0477 340 704