The ongoing debate on how Australia will choose to reform its gambling advertising laws has reached the boardrooms of TV networks.
The Alliance for Gambling Reform (AGR) launched a campaign targeting the shareholders of Australian TV networks to support a blanket ban on gambling advertising.
The campaign is led by the ‘chief advocate’, Reverend Tim Costello, who is the brother of Nine’s former Chairman, Peter Costello, as gambling advertising conflicts turn into family affair.
The campaign urges shareholders of Nine and Seven West Media (SWM) to bring forward a resolution for a blanket ban on gambling advertising to be voted on at the broadcasters’ upcoming AGMs.
The AGR states that it requires 100 shareholders to mobilise and propose its shareholder resolution to Nine and SWM as a matter of ethical investing and shareholder advocacy.
The investors and boards of Nine and SWM will decide whether to end all gambling advertising across the broadcasters’ networks, including television, radio, streaming, digital, and publishing platforms.
Reverend Costello advocated for bringing the resolution directly to shareholders: “We can’t achieve gambling reform until we’re inside these companies.
“I’ve bought the minimum parcel of shares in these companies. If others do the same or use their existing shares to support this campaign, that’s how we get inside these companies and push for change.
“The media companies are completely out of touch when it comes to gambling ads. Seven out of ten Australians want gambling advertisements on TV to be banned. Australians lose $25 billion each year to gambling, the highest per capita spend in the world.”
The AGR has criticised the Labor government for stalling its decision to implement a blanket ban on gambling advertising, as recommended by the Murphy Report.
Led by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy, the inquiry proposed 31 reforms to address gambling harms, including a phased ban on online gambling advertising over three years and a ‘Harms Levy’ on operators to fund awareness and treatment programmes.
The Labor government initially supported these reforms, indicating a commitment to reducing gambling harms, following previous measures like a credit card ban on gambling transactions and a national self-exclusion scheme.
However, with a deadline approaching, PM Anthony Albanese intervened, suggesting that Labor should propose a cap on gambling advertisements during sports broadcasts rather than a total ban.
Albanese and Labor were accused of yielding to the commercial interests of media networks instead of protecting national audiences.
The AGR has called on Labor to clarify its position on gambling advertising, following a letter signed by 60 prominent Australians, including four former PMs, urging the government to implement a federal ban on gambling advertising.
Labor’s resolution is still in the ‘draft stage’ and has yet to be presented to the cabinet. The timeline for implementation remains unclear, and there could be significant legislative debate and opposition.
PM Albanese denies that he has delayed the decision on a blanket ban, stating that Labor is reviewing the technicalities of applying advertising reforms to Australian media and sports.
Leaders of Australia’s biggest sportsbooks, including TAB, Neds (Entain Plc), and SportsBet (Flutter Entertainment), have reduced the volume of their advertising campaigns, acknowledging audience sensitivities regarding gambling and preparing for potential changes.
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