Australia: Prime Minister says ‘banning gambling risks pushing players offshore’
The Prime Minister defended current harm-reduction measures while declining to commit to a blanket advertising ban.
Key points:
– Anthony Albanese was asked directly whether he would support banning gambling ads
– He cited risks of driving players to offshore platforms with no tax or regulatory oversight
– Albanese highlighted existing measures such as the BetStop register and credit card restrictions
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed calls for a ban on gambling advertising but stopped short of backing the measure outright.
Asked whether he would support a ban, Albanese responded that his Government does not “make policy on the run,” stressing instead the initiatives already introduced to reduce gambling harm.
He pointed to the BetStop national self-exclusion register, which he described as “successful in stopping problem gambling,” as well as restrictions on the use of credit cards for online betting.
Albanese argued that the problem lies not with recreational wagering, such as “people having a punt on the horses on Saturday,” but with the number of people affected by problem gambling.
He added that poker machines (or pokies) remain the largest source of gambling-related harm.
Good to know: Australian officials have also raised concerns about crypto scams and underground cash networks tied to gambling
“What is in our mind is the practicalities of whether people just go offshore, then there’s no revenue at all and it doesn’t solve the problem,” he said.
The Prime Minister added that technological complexity and the global nature of gambling platforms require careful policymaking.
His remarks come as the Australian Communications and Media Authority continues to block unlicenced offshore sites, with hundreds of domains already restricted.
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