Australia: majority support for ads ban

More than half of Australian adults support banning betting ads on television, radio and on-demand platforms before 10.30pm.

According to The Age newspaper, most people are now concerned that gambling advertising has become too widespread and is normalising the behaviour among children.

Research published by the Australian Gambling Research Centre, a national agency, found almost 80 per cent of Australians say they are being exposed to betting advertising every week – 41 per cent say they see or hear gambling ads four or more times a week – and most believe it encourages people to start gambling for the first time or engage in riskier bets.

The concerns will heighten the onus on the federal government to tighten rules on sports betting advertisements despite opposition from major codes when a parliamentary inquiry into online gambling is finalised this year.