Australian Gambling Reform Bill Faces Senate Inquiry

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Altay Celikkaya

Content Manager

Updated: 04/08/26

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Australia’s proposed gambling reforms came under direct industry and political scrutiny on 4 August as Sportsbet, Tabcorp and Responsible Wagering Australia appeared before a Senate committee in Canberra. The Environment and Communications Legislation Committee is examining legislation that would restrict wagering advertising, strengthen BetStop and expand action against unauthorised gambling services.

The hearing moved the debate beyond the government’s initial announcement and into questions about how the proposed controls would work in practice. The committee is due to report on 17 August 2026, leaving scope for recommendations before Parliament considers the bills further.

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Regulation & Compliance

What the Senate Inquiry Means for Australian Operators

The inquiry tests whether the government’s model strikes an acceptable balance between reducing gambling exposure and retaining limited advertising routes for licensed wagering businesses. Several commercial and compliance implications are now in focus:

Three television adverts per hour: The bill would cap wagering advertising between 6am and 8.30pm, rather than introduce a complete broadcast ban.
Live sport faces tighter controls: Gambling adverts would be prohibited during live sports broadcasts within the restricted daytime and evening period.
Online advertising would become account-based: Platforms could show wagering adverts only to logged-in users confirmed as over 18 and given an option to opt out.
Sports sponsorship inventory would contract: Gambling advertising would be prohibited in sports venues and on players’ and officials’ uniforms.
A 17 August report will shape the next stage: The committee may recommend amendments before the bills progress through Parliament.

Advertising Model Remains at the Centre of the Debate

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 be used to promote wagering. Broadcast adverts featuring sporting odds would also be banned.

The online model is more targeted than a blanket prohibition. Digital platforms would need to prevent under-18 users and people without authenticated accounts from receiving wagering advertising, while eligible adult account holders would need access to an opt-out mechanism.

The bill’s full advertising framework was outlined when the Australian Government introduced its gambling reform package in July. The Senate process is now testing whether those settings are sufficiently protective and operationally workable.

Sportsbet and Tabcorp Respond to Committee Questions

The 4 August hearing included representatives from Sportsbet, Tabcorp and industry body Responsible Wagering Australia. Senators questioned the witnesses about advertising exposure, promotions and the management of higher-value customers, alongside serious claims raised in earlier evidence about wagering-company conduct.

Sportsbet corporate affairs director Jules Norton Selzer told the inquiry the company had “zero evidence of the allegations” and said it would investigate information provided to it. He also said Sportsbet supported measures intended to reduce underage exposure and strengthen consumer protection.

Tabcorp head of government affairs Julian Whealing rejected the claims made about its customer practices and said any evidence of unlawful activity should be referred to the relevant authorities. The companies’ responses leave the allegations contested and subject to evidence or regulatory investigation; they should not be presented as established findings of the committee.

Responsible Wagering Australia chief executive Kai Cantwell was also questioned about examples of gambling branding reaching younger audiences. He acknowledged that the industry had not always got its approach right and said operators had reduced advertising and promotional activity over recent years.

Reform Package Extends Beyond Gambling Advertising

Advertising is only one part of the proposed legislation. The Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026 would also increase the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s ability to act against unauthorised services and create mechanisms for banks and payment providers to block transactions connected to them.

The package would prohibit online keno and foreign matched lotteries while changing the treatment of some subscription-based trade promotions. It would also strengthen BetStop, Australia’s national self-exclusion register.

An accompanying cost-recovery bill would allow expenses associated with BetStop to be recovered from wagering providers. The government said the register had exceeded 65,400 registrations by the end of June 2026.

The reforms are proposed to commence on 1 January 2027, but they are not yet in force. The Senate committee’s report on 17 August will be the next formal milestone, followed by further parliamentary consideration of the two bills.