Gambling advertising reform in 2026? Don’t bet on it
Will there be changes to Gambling Advertising in Australia in 2026? If new, the answer should be ‘No’ Government Freedom of Information responses Rex Patrick Is there anything to go to?
June 28, 2023, the report of the Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs of the House of Representatives ‘online gambling and its effects on those harmed by gambling‘.
The inquiry was launched at the direction of Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth and was chaired by Labor MP Peta Murphy. Murphy deftly steered the investigation and produced a ‘you win some, you lose more’ report that won bipartisan support.
The report included 31 recommendations on consistent national consumer protection, regulation of online gambling, gambling advertising, research and data, illegal offshore gambling and simulated gambling games.
Recommendation 26 emerged as the highest-profile recommendation, calling for a complete four-phase ban on gambling advertising across all platforms.
total silence
2023, 2024, 2025… We have entered 2026 and there is still no response from the Government to the report. The committee’s website says it all “There is currently no Government Response document in this investigation.”
Gambling Inquiry Web Page (Source: Australian Parliament)
More than two and a half years have passed since the Murphy investigation report was presented to Parliament and there is still no response from the Albanian Government.
To be more precise, this means 919 days of policy paralysis as of January 2, 2026.
Equal Gambling industry now calls for ‘certainty’one way or another (it’s a MWM appeal for sympathy to the sector).
Industry does not sit idle
A Freedom of Information (FOI) response from Communications Minister Anika Wells and her department has revealed lobbying activities are taking place in the industry.
Murphy Report on gambling reform delayed by sports betting lobby
Shortly after Labor won the 2025 election, major media companies were presenting the gambling revenue case to the Government.
On 25 June 2025, both WIN Corporation and Foxtel met with Minister Wells to talk about betting advertising.
Meeting Summary for WIN Corporation (Source: FOI)
Nine Entertainment met with the Prime Minister and Minister Wells for 20 minutes on July 23, 2025. Gambling advertisements were the main topic.
Meeting Summary of Nine People (Source: FOI)
In fairness, Minister Wells also met with the Gambling Reform Alliance on 25 June 2025 and Gambling Harm Experience Experts on 28 August 2025.
There was no response to a request for access to the Prime Minister’s activities on gambling reform.
Rex Patrick Tweet
Security
There is no need for secrecy when it comes to gambling. But still the Government is involved.
On June 7, 2025 MWM Among other things, he filed an FOI request for access: “The latest draft (or final) of the Government’s response to the Parliamentary Inquiry into online gambling and its effects on those harmed by gambling.It was revealed that a 32-page draft response dated November 18, 2024 was available.
Inquiry Response Available (Source: FOI)
But the Government was not interested in sharing its thoughts with the Australian public. Three years of inaction on an issue that has caused great harm, including suicides, and the announcement of the draft response stating that the Government has made a ‘yes ministry’ to the public,
It could reasonably be expected to undermine ongoing negotiation processes in relation to cabinet functions that do not meet the stringent criteria for exemption under s34 but would disclose sensitive material relating to policy development processes that have not yet been agreed and concluded. This information remains current and is not currently publicly available. I think that premature disclosure of this information will cause serious harm to the public interest.
The decision maker confused ‘public interest’ with ‘departmental interest’.
More privacy claims emerged in the response to the second request, made on October 29, 2025.
More Privacy Revealed (Source: FOI)
MWM He will appeal the FOI decision.
The government shares the losses
Gambling is a trade in misery. The main focus of the House Committee was on the harm caused by gambling: psychological, health, relationship, legal and financial harm, as well as being a significant risk factor for suicide.
RoboDebt was a shameful mismanagement that caused massive harm, including suicides. The purpose of Robodebt was to (illegally) fill the public purse. Gambling is a shameful business that causes much greater harm, including suicides.
The purpose of online gambling advertisements is to (legally) collect money into the bank accounts of commercial organizations. It is well established that the gambling business has the greatest impact on lower socio-economic groups and communities, siphoning money from the less wealthy and transferring it to the accounts of billion-dollar businesses.
As shocking as Robodebt is, not gambling is even worse.
It is a disgrace that the Labor Government continues to gamble on advertising reform, not just quietly but secretly. They know what kind of damage is being caused, and they know that damage has been done to some of their core voter base, but they are deliberately allowing this to continue.
It’s an ugly story that tells us a lot about who Labor currently serves.
A hot mess. Sneaky Sportsbet’s ‘disorder’
Rex Patrick is a former South Australian Senator and formerly a submariner in the armed forces. Known as an anti-corruption and transparency warrior, Rex is also known as “Transparency Warrior“
