Australia’s proposed restrictions on gambling advertising and inducements passed the House of Representatives on Tuesday, sending the legislation to the Senate after the government secured Coalition support, according to SBS News.
More than a dozen amendments were made to the reform package as part of the agreement between the governing Labor Party and the Coalition.
The measures include establishing a national register allowing Australians to opt out of receiving wagering advertisements across online platforms.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) would administer the register, while licensed wagering operators would fund its operation through a new industry levy.
The register would operate alongside the government’s proposed “triple-lock” system. Under that mechanism, online gambling advertisements could only be shown to users who are logged in, verified as being over 18 and given an option to stop receiving the advertisements.
The amendments also introduce tighter restrictions on inducements and direct marketing. Wagering companies would be prohibited from sending direct marketing to customers during the first 14 days after they open an account.
The prohibition would also apply for 90 days after a customer deregisters from the national self-exclusion register BetStop, as well as to customers identified as being at high risk of gambling-related harm.
Commission arrangements involving gambling company employees or affiliates would also be prohibited.
Other amendments extend the wagering advertising blackout before live sporting events from five to 15 minutes and move the start of the three-advertisement-per-hour broadcast restriction from 6am to 5am.
Advertising would also be prohibited during children’s programming, while restrictions applying to televised live sport would be extended to online services.
Coalition lawmakers Pat Conaghan and Andrew Wallace crossed the floor to oppose the legislation, arguing that the measures remained insufficient.
The legislation is expected to be debated and passed by the Senate this week.
