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FORE Australia Reporter: Ari Casanova and Grace Knight
Publish Date: 02/9/2024
Problem Identification:
Gambling advertising is strongly linked to gambling-related harm.
According to the Australian Institute of Family Studies, ‘Among those at risk of gambling harm, half reported increasing their betting after seeing or hearing wagering ads.’
This can lead to financial, psychological, and relationship harm, affecting not only individuals who gamble but also their families and communities.
Context:
Solution Identification:
Advice:
Download the 1-page policy brief PDF here:
If your organisation would like to add your support to this paper please email Info@foreaustralia.com.
If you have any ammendment suggestions please reach out to Info@foreaustralia.com
Officially Endorsed by:
Alliance for Gambling Reform
Public Support:
Charles Livingston – Monash University
Mark Kempster
Wesley Mission
Where to go to learn more:
The Alliance for Gambling Reform: https://www.agr.org.au/
Inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on those experiencing gambling harm: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House/Social_Policy_and_Legal_Affairs/Onlinegamblingimpacts
Lived Experience:
Mark’s Story: Mark’s experience speaks to the harm that can be exacerbated by persistent gambling advertisements. On AFL Grand Final Day in 2020, Mark lost a significant amount of money, bringing to light his 7-year battle with gambling addiction that had cost his family over $100,000. Despite attempting to quit, to self-exclude, Mark was continually bombarded with gambling advertisements and promotional material. Mark's submission to the inquiry calls for stricter regulations to reduce the impact of gambling advertisements and to better protect vulnerable people and those experiencing gambling-related harm.
Reference list:
ACMA. (2019). Gambling advertising in Australia: Consumer and advertising placement research, pages 10-11. https://www.acma.gov.au/publications/2019-11/report/gambling-advertising-research
Alliance for Gambling Reform. (2023, May 12). Dutton puts sports gambling advertising crisis in the national spotlight - Both parties must move toward a total ban to protect our kids [media release].
Alliance For Gambling Reform. (n.d.). End gambling ads. https://www.agr.org.au/endgamblingads
Australian Gambling Research Centre. (2023). Exposure and impact of sports and race betting advertising in Australia. Australian Institute of Family Studies. https://aifs.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-03/2302_3_exposure-and-impacts.pdf
Australian Government. (2023) Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) Act 2023.
Australian Government. (1992).Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Act 1992. https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2004A04509/latest/text
Australian Institute of Family Studies. (2023, March 27). Betting advertising linked to riskier gambling behaviour and greater harm, new research finds [media release].
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2023, September 7). Gambling in Australia. Australian Government. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-welfare/gambling
Belot, H. (2023, October 18). More than a million gambling ads aired on Australian TV and radio in a year, research finds, The Guardian.
Belot, H. (2024, January 12). Victoria’s gambling regulator calls for ad ban after being ‘bombarded’ by worried parents. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/jan/12/victoria-gambling-ad-ban-regulator-push-parents-children
Browne, B. (2022). Inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on problem gamblers – Submission. The Australia Institute.
Browne, M., Hing, N., Russell, A.M.T., Thomas, A. and Jenkinson, R. (2019). The impact of exposure to wagering advertisements and inducements on intended and actual betting expenditure: An ecological momentary assessment study. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 8(1), pp.146–156. doi:https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.8.2019.10.
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communication and the Arts. (n.d.). Question Time Responses. Australian Government. https://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/rowland/speech/question-time-response-online-gambling-ads
Federal Register of Legislation. (n.d.). Smoking and Tobacco Products Advertisements (Prohibition) Act 1989. Australian Government. https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2004A03929/asmade/text
Kempster, M. (2023). Submission 26. Inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on those experiencing gambling harm. House of Representatives, Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House/Social_Policy_and_Legal_Affairs/Onlinegamblingimpacts/Report
Livingstone, C. (2023, May 19). Sport is being used to normalise gambling. We should treat the problem just like smoking. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/sport-is-being-used-to-normalise-gambling-we-should-treat-the-problem-just-like-smoking-205843
Parliament of Australia (n.d.) Inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on those experiencing gambling harm. https://www.aph.gov.au/onlinegambling
Parliament of Australia. (2023). You win some, you lose more: Inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on those experiencing gambling harm.
Parke, E. (2020, December 11). Online-gambling addiction inquiry reveals disturbing stories. ABC News.
Pitt, H., Thomas, S.L., Bestman, A., Stoneham, M. and Daube, M. (2016). ‘It's just everywhere!’ Children and parents discuss the marketing of sports wagering in Australia. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 40: 480-486. https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12564
Strauss, M. (2023, March 9). Belgium bans gambling advertising from July 1. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/belgium-bans-gambling-advertising-july-1-2023-03-09/.
Thomas, S.L., Bestman, A., Pitt, H. et al. (2018). Young people’s awareness of the timing and placement of gambling advertising on traditional and social media platforms: a study of 11–16-year-olds in Australia. Harm Reduct J 15, 51. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-018-0254-6
Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation. (n.d.). Gambling Advertising. https://responsiblegambling.vic.gov.au/resources/gambling-victoria/gambling-advertising/
Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation. (n.d.). Glossary.
Word Health Organization. (n.d.). Tobacco: Banning tobacco advertising, sponsorship and promotion. https://www.who.int/europe/health-topics/tobacco/banning-tobacco-advertising-sponsorship-and-promotion#tab=tab_1.
Conflict of interest / acknowledgment statement:
N/a
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