The Australian Parliament has officially passed the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026, introducing a comprehensive set of limitations on gambling advertisements across the country.
This legislation comes after extensive discussions and a Senate inquiry that questioned whether the government's proposed actions were sufficient. A previous inquiry in 2023 had suggested a total ban on gambling advertising, but lawmakers chose to implement a more limited approach.
The newly established law prohibits gambling advertisements during live broadcasts of sports events on both television and online platforms. This restriction is in effect from 15 minutes prior to the start of a live sporting event until five minutes after its conclusion, specifically between 5 a.m. and 8:30 p.m.
Additional regulations prevent wagering advertisements from appearing within sports venues and on the uniforms of athletes and officials. Furthermore, athletes, celebrities, and influencers are barred from endorsing betting products. Television ads for wagering are limited to three per hour during the designated hours, while radio advertisements are prohibited during school drop-off and pick-up times. The broadcasting of betting odds is also completely banned.
Online wagering advertisements will only be allowed for users who are logged into their accounts, are over 18 years old, and have the option to opt out.
A key aspect of this reform is the establishment of the Wagering Advertising Opt-out Register, which will be managed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). This register provides consumers with a unified method to block wagering advertisements across all online platforms, rather than requiring them to opt out from each service individually. This replaces an earlier proposal that would have limited wagering ads to age-verified users logged into their accounts.
The betting industry will finance this register through a cost-recovery levy, ensuring that taxpayers are not burdened with the expenses.
In addition, the reform grants banks and payment systems the power to prevent transactions to illegal gambling operators, while ACMA will have enhanced authority to swiftly block illegal gambling websites. The legislation also prohibits online keno and foreign-matched lotteries.
New restrictions are also in place for inducement marketing. Direct marketing of inducements is now banned for 14 days after a customer registers with a wagering company, for three months after a person deregisters from BetStop, and indefinitely for customers deemed at risk of gambling-related harm.
This week, Parliament also approved two related bills: the National Self-Exclusion Register (Cost Recovery Levy) Bill 2026 and the Interactive Gambling (Cost Recovery Levy) Bill 2026. Both bills outline how the costs related to the opt-out register, new inducement restrictions, and BetStop promotion will be funded by gambling companies.
Minister for Communications Anika Wells stated, “The Albanese Government is implementing the strongest laws ever to address gambling harm as part of a thorough and balanced package. These laws provide significant protections for Australians facing gambling-related issues, including relief from the overwhelming presence of wagering advertisements in sports and stringent restrictions on predatory inducements.”
Wells added, “We are also taking action against illegal gambling operators and other unscrupulous services that divert business from legitimate lotteries and charities. We have collaborated across Parliament to create a balanced, practical, and enforceable set of gambling reforms – the most significant in Australia's history.”