Identified as a public health issue, gambling is widely spread across Australia. Annually, Australians spend billions of dollars on different forms of gambling, including sports betting. Gambling ads contribute toward the record losses, but the country’s federal government is currently exploring options for a reform of the sector. Labor MPs have previously proposed a ban on gambling ads, but the federal government is currently reviewing whether or not this can be implemented.

The proposed reform is supported by Tim Costello, a chief advocate for the Alliance for Gambling Reform. With more people engaging in gambling activities, gambling ads are only putting fuel to the fire, at least for the moment.

In a recent report released by The Guardian, Annette Kimmitt, the chief executive of the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC), the independent authority that regulates the gambling sector in Victoria, spoke about the impact of gambling advertisements and how those ads can push even children into gambling. She confirmed that she is “really waiting with bated breath for the federal government to respond to the inquiry’s recommendations.”

Moreover, Kimmitt spoke about an increasing number of parents who complained to her upon discovering that their children had created online betting accounts. The chief executive said she was bombarded with such complaints while others were asking her for a gambling advertisement ban. To the requests about a gambling ban, Kimmitt responded “I wish I could, but that is not up to me.”

“When people find out I am the head of the Victorian gambling regulator, I am bombarded with stories from parents of teenagers who have discovered that their children have online wagering accounts.“

Annette Kimmitt, chief executive of the VGCCC

Gambling Reform Is a Once-in-a-Generation Chance

Costello highlighted the importance of the potential gambling reform. He encouraged the federal government to consider major changes to the gambling sector, explaining that this is a “once-in-a-generation chance for reform.” Additionally, Costello said: “The public and parents are crying out for it and the regulator is in touch with the community and knows exactly how they feel.”

In an effort to reduce gambling ads, New South Wales implemented changes to its laws about external advertising. The new state regulations came into effect last year, prohibiting the display of gaming signage. The state’s gambling regulator, Liquor & Gaming New South Wales, was tasked with monitoring the compliance with the new rules and as of December, highlighted that 99% of the venues complied.

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North Carolina succeeded in getting legal sports betting approved but failed to legalize casino gaming in 2023. While proponents of casino resorts plan to continue pushing for legalization of the vertical, opponents of such a measure are anxious that the game might be rigged.

For reference, North Carolina recently vowed to provide several counties, including Anson, Nash and Rockingham, with funding for major infrastructural improvements. The move caused some to think that the measure might be a preparation for the launch of casino gaming in the Tar Heel State.

For reference, Anson is set to be provided with $6 million for wastewater projects. Nash, on the other hand, will receive some $17 million for similar reasons. The biggest winner of all is Rockingham, which will be provided with a whopping $54.5 million for infrastructural upgrades. The money is part of the $2 billion North Carolina will allocate to infrastructure projects across the state.

The Government Has Been Planning This Investment for Years

According to uneasy opponents of the expansion of gambling, the infrastructural improvements in question are a setup for the launch of Las Vegas-style resorts as they will facilitate the construction of such venues.

Opponents of the launch of casino gaming were quick to point out that last year’s legislation sought approval for casino resorts in these exact counties. The legislation was the brainchild of Sen. Phil Berger and was supported by The Cordish Companies, a major casino and hospitality company. Berger’s promise to reintroduce the measure in 2024 is another factor that caused concern among anti-gambling activists.

For reference, the majority of voters in North Carolina oppose further expansion of the state’s gambling industry. At the same time, Berger believes casino resorts are not just about gaming but about nurturing the economic growth of rural areas as a whole.

In any case, the government was quick to point out that there is no correlation between the proposed improvements and some local leaders’ support for casino resorts. According to the authorities, the infrastructural investments are something they have been planning for years.

Anson County Manager Leonard Sossamon, however, did confirm that the infrastructure improvements would benefit a potential casino resort – a project that would be impossible at the moment.

In other news, NC recently approved the second batch of sports betting rules.

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