GAMBLING ADVERTISING BANNED DURING LIVE SPORTING EVENTS & MINISTERS AGREE ON ONLINE GAMBLING REFORM

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has confirmed the Government will ban gambling advertising before 8.30pm during live sporting events, and for five minutes before and after the start of play.

Executives of some of the nation’s biggest sporting codes have argued that restricting gambling advertising will slash the value of the television rights their codes attract.

However, Mr Turnbull said the plan would go ahead. “Parents around Australia will be delighted when they know that during football matches, and cricket matches, live sporting events before 8:30 pm, there will be no more gambling ads,” he said.

Mr Turnbull said the ban would not apply to racing.

Under the new model, the nation’s free-to-air television networks $130 million per year broadcast licenses will be replaced by what is called a “spectrum charge” of about $40 million.

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FEDERAL AND STATE MINISTERS AGREE ON ONLINE GAMBLING REFORM

Federal, state and territory ministers have agreed on 11 new measures to crack down on online problem gambling.

Online gambling companies will no longer be allowed to offer lines of credit to their customers.

A voluntary, opt-out precommitment scheme will also be established, links between online wagering providers and payday lenders will be prohibited, and new activity statements will be required to be provided on demand and on a regular basis.

Ministers also committed to agree to implementation details for a national self-exclusion register for online wagering by September this year, which will allow problem gamblers to ban themselves for between three months and a lifetime.

The new National Consumer Protection Framework is expected to be implemented by the end of this year, largely through state licencing changes or through Commonwealth legislation.

The Turnbull government has committed $1.35 million to a $3m investment by state and federal governments to establish a national gambling research model which will begin work on July 1.

Human Services Minister Alan Tudge said it represented a milestone. Mr Tudge said the framework was the centrepiece of the government’s response to former NSW premier Barry O’Farrell’s review of illegal offshore wagering.

Image:  Human Services Minister Alan Tudge

 

Sources: The Australian / ABC / ClubsNSW / Aust Government Human Services