The Australian government is reportedly shifting its approach to gambling advertisements, moving away from a near-total ban to targeting ads on social media and other digital platforms.
According to Nine Newspapers, the new strategy includes capping the number of gambling ads per hour on TV and banning them an hour before and after live sports.
The proposal has yet to reach Cabinet, but it is already fueling a heated debate.
On today’s episode of The Briefing, we talked to David Pocock, a former rugby union star and now an independent senator for the ACT.
Mr Pocock expressed frustration with the government’s decision and highlighted the need to eliminate gambling ads from Australian TV.
Anti-gambling advocates argue that the new plan falls short, failing to address the pervasive impact of gambling on people’s lives.
On the other hand, sporting bodies claim that restricting gambling ads threatens the revenue needed to support grassroots and free-to-air sports.
Media companies, including NewsCorp and Nine, warn that such a ban could lead to job losses.
“My view is that for over 18s, nothing is stopping you going and having a punt, having all the apps on your phone, going down to the local pub and placing bets; this is about young people and protecting them,” Mr Pocock said.
“I think there is a real role for elected representatives and for the government to show leadership and to say, these can be incredibly harmful products.”
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