Australia Adds Gambling Ad Opt Out Register to 2026 Reform Bill

Australia has added tougher gambling advertising controls to its 2026 reform package, including a national ad opt-out register, longer live sport blackouts and a ban on performance-linked payments for customer acquisition. The government plans for key measures to start on January 1, 2027.

---

Good to Know

• Online gambling ads will face a three-part check covering login status, age verification and advertising preferences.
• Celebrity, athlete and influencer gambling endorsements will be banned.
• A Senate committee recommended passage of the reform bills but called for stronger consumer protections.

---

Gambling Ad Rules Get Late Changes

Communications Minister Anika Wells introduced amendments allowing Australians to register that they do not want to receive gambling promotions. ACMA will gain powers to require online services to provide relevant opt-out tools.

Digital wagering advertising will also face a “triple lock.” A user must have an account, be logged in, pass age verification and have access to the advertising opt-out system before gambling promotions can appear.

Streaming platforms including 9Now and 7plus will come under restrictions similar to television. Meanwhile, paid gambling promotions involving celebrities, athletes and social media influencers will be prohibited.

The changes go further around live sport. The wagering ad blackout before play will increase from five minutes to 15 minutes, while the daytime ban will start at 5am rather than 6am and continue until 8.30pm.

However, the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee heard criticism of the opt-out model during an inquiry that reported on August 17. Critics argued that users rarely alter default settings and that children can still watch sport after the 8.30pm cutoff. The inquiry forms part of a reform process that followed the 2023 You Win Some, You Lose More report, which had recommended a phased comprehensive ban on online gambling advertising.

Bookmaker Commission Rules Also Tightened

Another amendment targets payments designed to encourage customer acquisition or increased gambling.

Wagering companies will no longer be able to provide commissions, bonuses or similar performance-based payments to employees, agents or third parties for acquiring, reactivating, retaining or managing customers.

The Senate inquiry heard evidence about VIP incentives and high-value customers, including testimony cited from former rugby league player Luke Bateman:

“Before getting there, your VIP manager would go: ‘Hey, mate, what drugs do you want? Do you want a couple of bags for this weekend? We’ll organise that for you. We’ll have that ready for you when you get here’.”

Breaches can attract civil penalties of up to 1,000 penalty units. Attempts to avoid the rules can reach 7,500 penalty units, including schemes arranged offshore.

The legislation sits alongside other federal gambling harm measures, including BetStop. Wells said this week that wagering companies will fund a national campaign designed to increase awareness of the national self-exclusion register.

The post Australia Adds Gambling Ad Opt Out Register to 2026 Reform Bill appeared first on iGaming.org.