Australia has approved a broad set of gambling reforms that will change how wagering companies reach customers and how authorities respond to gambling-related risks. The Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026 passed Parliament alongside two cost-recovery measures covering the new regulatory arrangements.
The Albanese Government said the reforms will strengthen protections against online gambling harm, particularly for children and young people. The package also gives regulators and payment providers greater scope to address illegal gambling activity.
Sporting Promotions Face Tighter Controls
Sport will become subject to several of the new advertising restrictions. Wagering advertisements will be prohibited during live sporting coverage on broadcast and online content services from 5am to 8:30pm. The restriction starts 15 minutes before a live event and ends five minutes afterward.
Companies will also be prohibited from placing wagering advertising in sports venues or on players’ and officials’ uniforms. Athletes, celebrities and influencers will no longer be permitted to promote wagering.
Television broadcasters will be limited to three wagering advertisements per hour between 5am and 8:30pm. Radio advertising will face restrictions during school drop-off and pick-up periods.
The legislation also prohibits the promotion of sporting odds. Online platforms can show wagering advertising only to users with logged-in accounts who are over 18 and have an option to opt out.
The government will establish a Wagering Advertising Opt-out Register to allow people to opt out of wagering advertising across their services through a single system.
New Protections Address Customer Vulnerability
The reforms extend beyond advertising. Direct marketing of wagering inducements will be prohibited for 14 days after a person signs up with a wagering company. A three-month restriction will apply after someone deregisters from BetStop, while customers identified as being at risk of gambling-related harm will also be covered.
The legislation strengthens BetStop, the National Self-Exclusion Register, following the findings of its statutory review. BetStop provides a mechanism for people to exclude themselves from gambling.
The package also bans online keno “pocket pokies” and foreign-matched lotteries and introduces stronger rules for trade promotion services.
Authorities Gain More Tools Against Illegal Gambling
Payment providers will have greater capacity to intervene in illegal gambling transactions. Banks and payment systems will be able to block transactions involving illegal gambling operators.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority will receive additional powers to act more quickly against illegal gambling websites.
Parliament also passed the National Self-Exclusion Register (Cost Recovery Levy) Bill 2026 and the Interactive Gambling (Cost Recovery Levy) Bill 2026. The measures allow costs associated with the advertising opt-out register, new inducement restrictions and promotion of BetStop to be recovered from gambling companies.
The reforms follow amendments made during the parliamentary process. The Albanese Government described the resulting package as the strongest ever laws aimed at tackling gambling harm in Australia.
Taken together, the measures establish restrictions across advertising, customer inducements, self-exclusion and access to illegal gambling services, while placing additional responsibilities on wagering companies and expanding enforcement powers.
Source:
“Strongest ever gambling reforms passed”, alp.org.au, August 19, 2026