Gambling ads to be banned on public transport in New South Wales
Minns government to clamp down on ads across entire portfolio of transport network over the next 12 months
The government of New South Wales (NSW) has moved to ban gambling advertising on public transport across the state.
The Labor Minns government has sanctioned the removal of ads, both internal and external, on trains, the Sydney metro, buses, light rail, train stations and ferry terminals.
The removal of ads will take place over the next 12 months as the NSW government works with existing contract holders to phase out the materials.
The ban will apply to all casino, lottery and online betting ads.
Public transport in the state is managed by Transport NSW, with the government body running one of the largest ad portfolios in the entirety of Australia.
Within the portfolio, Transport NSW oversees 798 advertising boards at Sydney train stations, 49 road-facing digital billboards and adverts on up to 3,711 urban buses.
The NSW government added that regarding assets not owned by the state, such as bus stops, the government would work with stakeholders to align marketing policies with the ad ban.
The transport ad ban comes after the Minns government prevented all external gambling signs in venues in September 2023.
In July 2024, the NSW government also banned gambling ads from appearing near ATMs or EFTPOS terminals with cash withdrawal facilities.
Jo Haylen, NSW transport minister, said: “Gambling advertising has been a common sight on our public transport for a couple of years now, and I’m pleased our government is taking action to remove it.
“Parents are rightly worried about the impact it has on their kids, so it’s not something we think that needs to be on our transport network.
“With over 3,500 buses, close to 800 advertising assets at train stations, as well as advertising on light rail and trains, Transport’s [NSW] advertising contracts are vast.
“Because of the scale it will take some time to implement this change, but we will be working closely with our contract partners over the next 12 months to get this done.”
David Harris, NSW minister for gaming and racing, added: “Removing gambling advertising from public transport is another demonstration of the Minns Labor government’s commitment to reducing gambling harm in NSW.
“This move will reduce the public’s exposure to gambling advertising and builds on the suite of reforms the government has introduced over the past 20 months to reduce harmful impacts of gambling.”
The Transport NSW ban comes as the federal government continues to mull over its own TV and online marketing restrictions as proposed by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy in 2023.