The Alliance for Gambling Reform has endorsed an open letter calling on the Northern Territory Government to put people before gambling industry profits. With almost all of Australia's largest online bookmakers licensed in the NT, the Territory has the opportunity to protect people from gambling harm right across the country.
The open letter, led by Independent Member for Johnston Justine Davis MLA, has been signed by more than 30 community leaders, health and social service organisations, researchers, people with lived experience, and federal MPs. It urges the NT Government to support Ms Davis's private member's bill, which will be introduced to NT Parliament next Wednesday. The bill would make preventing gambling harm a clear purpose of the Territory's gambling laws, ban inducements such as bonus bets and VIP schemes, introduce monthly deposit caps for young people aged 18 to 24, and strengthen conflict of interest rules for the NT Racing and Wagering Commission.
Australians lose more to gambling per person than any other country in the world. Tim Costello says "Gambling harm is tearing through families and communities in the Territory and acroos Australia. The consequences are devastating: domestic violence, mental health impacts, children going without food on the table, and at worst, suicide. It's time our laws prioritised public health over private profit, and the NT can lead the way”.
Fifty online bookmakers are licensed in the NT, including Sportsbet, Ladbrokes and Bet365, which means decisions made in Darwin affect people in every state and territory. The bill would place an obligation on bookmakers to take all reasonable steps to prevent harm, and lift the maximum penalty for breaches from $194,000 to $10 million or 10 per cent of annual revenue.
"Almost every major online bookmaker in this country is licensed in the NT. What the Territory decides doesn't stay in the Territory. This bill could protect people right across Australia," said Rev. Tim Costello, Chief Advocate, Alliance for Gambling Reform.
The federal reforms passed in August were a missed opportunity to ban inducements, as the Murphy inquiry recommended. The NT Government now has the opportunity, and the
responsibility, to act. AGR urges all members of the NT Parliament to support this bill and
show national leadership on gambling harm.
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:
For media enquiries, please contact [email protected] | (07) 2115 0820.
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Alternative Contacts:
Tim Costello 0411 633 446
