More than 70 prominent Australians, including former prime ministers and premiers, union leaders and medical experts, have signed an open letter calling on the federal government to ban gambling advertising.
The open letter to Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton calls for the “tsunami” of gambling ads on screens to be phased out within three years.
“We have to treat gambling and the ads just like we treated tobacco ads,” Alliance for Gambling Reform chief executive Tim Costello said.
READ MORE: Dead woman found entangled in baggage machinery at US airport
Former prime ministers John Howard and Malcolm Turnbull have backed the campaign.
So too have former premiers Dominic Perrottet and Jeff Kennett.
“Gambling losses are responsible for enormous harm across the community,” Howard said.
Per capita, Australians spend the most money on gambling in the world, collectively losing $25 billion a year.
Parliament resumes on Monday, with today’s calls putting further pressure on the government.
READ MORE: Razor-thin solar panels could be ‘ink-jetted’ onto phones
The government still has not responded to a comprehensive review into gambling harms, that was released more than a year ago.
“We continue to consult on the final response to that inquiry,” Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Patrick Gorman said.
Any advertising ban could put further pressure on local companies already competing with global tech giants like Netflix and Facebook.
“A ban would reduce the sector’s ability to contribute to sport, broadcast and integrity arrangements,” a spokesperson for Responsible Wagering Australia said.
Supporters of the ban suggest that broadcasters could be compensated for the loss of gambling ad revenue.
“People who are affected like broadcast media need to know there will be compensation for a very important social step forward,” Costello said.
links to content on ABC
9News
