Australia’s gambling reform bill could be strengthened with new limits on betting inducements after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese backed further restrictions during negotiations with the Coalition. The potential amendments would add to proposed controls on wagering advertising, sports sponsorship, BetStop and unauthorised gambling services. However, the scope of the inducement limits remains undecided, and no final agreement has passed Parliament.
Australia’s proposed gambling reforms have moved beyond the 4 August Senate hearing, with negotiations now focusing on whether the bill should include stronger controls on betting inducements.
Albanese has backed limits on inducements: The prime minister has signalled support for restrictions as Labor seeks Coalition backing for the bill.
The details remain unresolved: The government has not confirmed which bonus bets, enhanced odds or other promotions could be affected.
Advertising restrictions remain central: The bill would limit broadcast and online wagering advertising and prohibit gambling promotions during live sport within specified hours.
Sports sponsorship would be reduced: Gambling advertising would be prohibited in sports venues and on the uniforms of players and officials.
No new inducement rules have passed: Any restrictions remain subject to negotiations, amendments and parliamentary approval.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has committed to including some restrictions on betting inducements as Labor negotiates with the Coalition over the wider reform package.
The development follows calls from opposition leader Angus Taylor for action against promotions he described as predatory. However, the government has not revealed which inducements would be restricted, whether exemptions would apply or when detailed amendments could be introduced.
Speaking to Labor’s caucus, Albanese said:
This will be the strongest anti-gambling legislation that Australia has ever seen.
Albanese also indicated that the proposed amendments would address targeted advertising, children’s exposure and betting inducements. However, Coalition sources stopped short of confirming that a final agreement had been reached, and no new inducement restrictions have passed Parliament.
The negotiations follow the 4 August Senate committee hearing, where Sportsbet, Tabcorp and Responsible Wagering Australia faced questions about the proposed advertising and consumer-protection measures. The committee is due to report on 17 August, potentially recommending further changes before the legislation progresses.
The government’s official gambling reform package proposes restrictions across television, radio, digital platforms and sport. Radio advertising would be prohibited during school drop-off and pick-up periods, while athletes, celebrities and influencers could no longer promote wagering. Broadcast adverts featuring sporting odds would also be banned.
Digital platforms would be able to show wagering adverts only to authenticated adult users, who must also receive an option to opt out. The model is therefore more targeted than a blanket online advertising ban.
The gambling reform package introduced in July did not include the detailed inducement limits now under negotiation. Any restrictions on bonus bets, enhanced odds or similar promotions would need to be added through amendments and approved by Parliament.
Representatives from Sportsbet, Tabcorp and Responsible Wagering Australia appeared before the Senate committee on 4 August. Senators questioned them about advertising exposure, promotional practices and the treatment of higher-value customers.
Sportsbet and Tabcorp rejected serious claims raised in earlier evidence concerning operator conduct and said credible information should be investigated or referred to the relevant authorities. The allegations remain contested and should not be presented as findings of the committee.
Responsible Wagering Australia chief executive Kai Cantwell also faced questions about gambling branding reaching younger audiences. He acknowledged that the industry had not always taken the right approach and said operators had reduced advertising and promotional activity in recent years.
The hearing now provides important context for negotiations over stronger inducement restrictions, particularly as policymakers consider whether the original package offers sufficient consumer protection.
The Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026 would also give the Australian Communications and Media Authority additional powers against unauthorised gambling services. Proposed measures include mechanisms for banks and payment providers to block transactions connected to illegal operators.
The package would prohibit online keno and foreign matched lotteries, change the treatment of certain subscription-based trade promotions and strengthen BetStop, Australia’s national self-exclusion register. An accompanying bill would allow the cost of operating BetStop to be recovered from wagering providers. The government said registrations had exceeded 65,400 by the end of June 2026.
If approved, the reforms are scheduled to commence on 1 January 2027. They are not yet in force, and the proposed inducement restrictions have not been published. The Senate committee’s report, due on 17 August, will be the next formal milestone before further parliamentary consideration.
