Australians in support of tighter restrictions for gambling ads
A study conducted by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) has found that the majority of Australian adults are worried that gambling advertisements may normalise betting behaviour among children and make sports events less suitable for families.
As a result, there is a growing call for a prohibition on betting advertisements on television, radio, and on-demand platforms before 10:30pm.
The purpose of the survey was to measure the extent of gambling engagement and public perception regarding the high frequency of betting advertising in Australia, where the amount of money spent on gambling rose from $89.7 million in 2011 to a little under $300 million in 2021.
Wagering ads were observed to have a risky influence on betting behaviour, particularly among young individuals and those who are susceptible to gambling problems.
According to the study, 38% of adults in Australia engage in gambling at least once a week. Additionally, within the past year, three out of four Australians have gambled at least once, with 46% of those individuals classified as at risk of experiencing harm due to their gambling behaviour.
The study found that 21% of the 1,765 people surveyed were prompted to start betting for the first time, 28% tried a new form of betting, 29% made impulsive bets, and one-third of people increased their betting after being exposed to such advertisements.
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Most survey respondents (64%) believed that it was the government’s responsibility to regulate gambling advertising. About half of the participants supported banning broadcast advertising before 10:30pm (53%), direct marketing advertising (58%), celebrity or athlete endorsements (50%), and all social media advertising (47%).
Additionally, 64% of survey participants believed that it was the government’s responsibility to decide on how betting is advertised, and around half of those surveyed supported the banning of broadcast advertising before 10:30pm, direct marketing, celebrity or athlete endorsements, and all social media advertising.
The concerns expressed by the survey participants will increase pressure on the federal government to impose stricter regulations on sports betting advertisements.
Speaking on the findings of the research, the executive manager of the Australian Gambling Research Centre, Dr Rebecca Jenkinson, said the research provides a clear indication of the connection between betting advertising and potential harms.
“We know the harms that gambling causes – at an individual, family and societal level – including impacts on finances, relationships and health and wellbeing,” Jenkinson said.
“This research shows that exposure to wagering advertising is leading to riskier betting behaviour and escalating the likelihood of experiencing gambling harms. The report also captures the concerns of the Australian public that wagering advertising normalises gambling activity.”
