Total ban

Australia’s Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland is having a busy end to the year. A Guardian exclusive has revealed that multiple lobbyists have met, or want to meet the MP as the country considers banning all online gambling advertising.

Documents released under Australia’s Freedom of Information Act revealed betting firms, media houses, and professional sports leagues have secured meetings with Rowland’s administration or wish to. Gambling firms who’ve already put their cases forward to the minister’s office include Entain-owned Ladbrokes and Neds, PointsBet, Betr, Sportsbet, Crown, Betfair, Tabcorp, and BlueBet.

Widespread worry

The lobbying efforts come as the communications ministry deliberates on a parliamentary inquiry in June that recommended the ban.

66 lobbyists have met with Rowland’s office

The FOI Act documents were obtained by anti-gambling MP Kate Chaney, who was also a member of the parliamentary inquiry. Chaney took to X Tuesday to state that 66 lobbyists have met with Rowland’s office and called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government to ban the ads as “6 months is up.”

Upping the anti-gambling ante, the Guardian cited Chaney as stating the ban was an “opportunity for the Albanese government to demonstrate it’s got the guts to stand up to the gambling lobby, and to prioritize our kids, to prioritize community mental health, to prioritize the victims of this insidious industry.”

Against the ban

Two powerful bodies against the ban are the Australian Football League (AFL) and the Australian Rugby League (ARL), who have met with Rowland or her staff twice. Meanwhile, Foxtel, Channel Seven, Channel Nine, Commercial Radio Australia, SBS, and Free TV are the broadcasters who’ve had meetings with the ministry.

The FOI Act documents also include a claim by Greyhounds Australasia that a gambling ad ban would lead to “a catastrophic reduction in revenues across the Australian racing industry.” Greyhound Racing New South Wales, meanwhile, stated a ban would prompt an approximate “33% reduction in racing and sport turnover from the two largest wagering service providers, Entain and Sportsbet.”

The Australian government has also asked Facebook, Google, and TikTok to tote up how much they stand to lose over the gambling ads ban.

Necessary meetings

According to Australian media, a government spokesperson stated the scale of the engagement is “necessary” for it to mull over curbs on the gambling industry.

The status quo of online wagering advertising is untenable”

The spokesperson added: “The status quo of online wagering advertising is untenable and the government will announce a comprehensive response in due course.” Responsible Wagering Australia’s Chief Executive Officer Kai Cantwell called the inquiry’s recommendation to ban gambling ads: “shortsighted, ineffective and not the answer.”

The revealing FOI Act documents come in the same month Australia’s Parliament approved a gambling credit card ban for online betting.