Leading Australian gambling reformist denies prohibition aims

The chief advocate of Australia’s Alliance for Gambling Reform (AGR) has requested an urgent meeting with Anthony Albanese after the country’s prime minister appeared to label him as a gambling prohibitionist. 

Reverend Tim Costello has consistently called for a reduction in gambling advertising Down Under but has claimed he would not want to see the sector prohibited.

Speaking in parliament this week, Albanese cited the campaigner as he claimed lobbyists “want gambling stopped, full stop”.

The PM also made clear that he has no interest in listening to calls for gambling to be banned, viewing such a step as an “intrusion into people’s personal liberties”. 

In response, Costello said: “I have never been advocating for a ban on gambling. I believe people should have the option to gamble, but we do not need to be bombarded with literally a million-plus ads every year imploring us to gamble. 

“If the Prime Minister implements only a partial ban on gambling advertising, he is siding with rich bookmakers rather than protecting our children from gambling harm. Mr Albanese should also take the time to meet with people who have been harmed by gambling.” 

While in parliament, Albanese addressed the recent debate on whether a blanket ban should be implemented on all gambling advertising, as advocated for by the late Labor [NB Aussie Labor Party is spelled without a U] MP Peta Murphy.

Reports have suggested that the PM is set to snub that suggestion and instead enforce a capped system that reduces the risk of children being exposed to such adverts.

Albanese also pushed back against a Sky News Australia report that claimed ads on TV would be banned within two years and online marketing would be outlawed imminently.

Martin Thomas, the AGR’s CEO, went on to reference research from the Australian Gambling Research Centre, which suggested that a third of young adults start gambling before they turn 18.

“This is just further proof that gambling companies are coming for our kids,” he claimed. “They have used sport to lure our kids into gambling and they have targeted them on social media.

“Parents are furious at the targeting of their children by gambling advertising and want a full ad ban in broadcast media and online.” 

Meanwhile, the AGR revealed it has raised A$20,000 (£10,227) and is edging closer to the halfway point of its A$50,000 goal, with the funds being used to lobby for an end to gambling ads.

So far, the donations have been used to fund SMS, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google ads. The AGR has claimed its efforts have reached more than 200,000 people in three “key federal Labour seats”.

Those efforts include a front-page ad on today’s, 12 September, edition of The Australian.

The body said: “There’s a big week in parliament ahead, a crucial time to continue pressuring the government on this issue to ensure significant gambling reform and achieve our goal of ending gambling advertising in Australia.”

A recent poll by RedBridge Group found that as many as 72% of Australians support the idea of a blanket ban on gambling advertisement.