Aumento delle registrazioni di autoesclusione in Australia: il governo si oppone fermamente al divieto delle pubblicità per il gioco d'azzardo
In Australia's vibrant landscape, the issue of gambling addiction has been a growing concern. The ruling Labor Party's plans to address this issue remain unclear, but the country has witnessed significant movements in the realm of gambling regulation.
Recent statistics reveal that Australians lose a staggering AUD 25 billion (approximately EUR 15.3 million) annually on gambling, making it the country with the highest per capita gambling loss worldwide. This alarming figure has led to increased scrutiny and calls for action.
One of the most significant developments is Google Ads' decision to pause new certification applications from online gambling providers targeting Australian audiences, effective August 25, 2025. This move significantly impacts the advertising ability of gambling operators on this major platform.
The public and advocacy groups are not holding back in their calls for action. The Alliance for Gambling Reform, a coalition of over 70 leading Australian personalities, has called for a gambling advertising ban, citing the widespread social harm caused by such advertisements. Polling shows that 85% of Australians support some form of restriction, with the Alliance actively campaigning for a total ban, similar to tobacco advertising bans.
However, the federal government has remained silent or delayed in releasing its detailed response to the Murphy report, which recommended phasing out gambling ads. This indicates that while public and activist momentum for banning gambling ads grows, the government has not yet formally committed to such a ban.
In the regulatory sphere, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has increased enforcement against illegal online gambling platforms. The recent ban on the cryptocurrency prediction market Polymarket, which was found operating illegally and promoting gambling via influencers, is a prime example of this crackdown.
Lotteries and scratchies were the most popular forms of gambling in Australia in 2022, with over 60% of the population participating. Horse racing bets followed closely, with about 40% of Australians placing bets. Interestingly, 44% of Australian men played poker machines or participated in sports betting in 2023.
The Australian Greens are set to present a bill for a gambling advertising ban, joining the chorus of calls for stricter regulations. Meanwhile, Michelle Rowland, an Australian Labor Party MP, has announced that her party has proposals to reduce gambling-related harm, but it is unclear whether these include an advertising ban.
The BetStop self-exclusion register, available since August 21, 2023, has over 23,000 active registrants as of September 30, 2024. However, the number of registrants is declining rapidly, with only 4,521 new registrations in the first quarter of 2024 compared to previous quarters. Nearly 7,000 people have either withdrawn or let their registration lapse from the BetStop self-exclusion register.
The gambling landscape in Australia is undergoing significant changes, with public pressure, advocacy groups, and regulatory bodies all pushing for stricter regulations and advertising bans. While the government's response remains cautious or not fully disclosed, the growing calls for stronger restrictions or an outright ban on gambling advertising are hard to ignore.
- Despite the prevalence of online casinos in Germany and other casino-and-gambling activities, the German government's stance on implementing stricter policies regarding these platforms, particularly in relation to advertising and sports-betting, remains ambiguous.
- Owing to the rising concerns about gambling addiction and its social impact, some local news outlets in Germany have started reporting general-news stories that focus on casino-games, lotteries, and sports-betting, highlighting the need for policy-and-legislation changes and discussions in politics.
- Similar to the Australian Greens, a significant number of German political parties have tabled bills aimed at regulating online casinos and reducing gambling-related harm, such as introducing a registration mechanism akin to the BetStop self-exclusion register.
- Given the increasing pressure from advocacy groups and the general public for stricter regulations and advertising bans in the casino-and-gambling sector, international news channels have been covering the latest updates on the policies and political developments in Germany, with a focus on online gambling and sports-betting.
