IN THE NEWS

A new international study has found that loot boxes in video games share similar risk factors with gambling harm, linking them to anxiety, stress, and impulsivity. Flinders University professor Zsolt Demetrovics warns: “It might produce gambling later in adolescence – it’s an obvious risk.”

With Australian teens spending up to $70 a month on loot boxes and one in three children making in-game purchases, the risks are clear. The gaming industry must stop using gambling-like mechanics that lure young players into harmful spending habits.

The WA Government is strengthening gambling laws with tougher penalties and greater enforcement powers. These reforms, responding to the Perth Casino Royal Commission, aim to modernise regulation and deter illegal gambling.

GWC Chair Gary Dreibergs says: “The substantial increase in penalties will act as a more effective deterrent and a more appropriate punishment for law breakers.”

But to truly stop money laundering and protect people from gambling harm, The Alliance recommends a mandatory cashless gambling card with spending limits. This would:
✅ Prevent anonymous cash transactions
✅ Track gambling activity to detect suspicious behaviour
✅ Cut off the flow of dirty money in casinos

Support change. Donate to The Alliance today.

Independent MPs Andrew Wilkie and Rebekha Sharkie are demanding that gambling apps display live losses to help people see the real impact of their gambling. Right now, monthly statements aren’t enough—many people experiencing gambling harm don’t realise how much they’re losing until it’s too late.

"This would cost the government very, very little to police, but this would stop lives being lost," Ms Sharkie said.

The Alliance’s CEO, Martin Thomas, calls gambling harm an epidemic, revealing that up to one in five suicides could be linked to gambling harm. With weak consumer protections and predatory gambling companies exploiting personal data to push people into deeper losses, urgent action is needed.

Yet, the government continues to delay real reform, ignoring a landmark report that recommended banning gambling ads. Enough is enough.

Gambling has infiltrated our daily lives, especially through smartphones. With apps offering 24/7 access and sports betting integrating into sports culture, it’s never been easier—or more dangerous—to gamble. Globally, 80 million people suffer from gambling harm, many lured by apps designed to exploit our brains' reward systems.

Kids aren't immune, with games like Roblox gamifying gambling behaviours; for example loot boxes – where you trade real money for random digital items.

The NSW Government is banning gambling ads on public transport—buses, trains, ferries, and light rail. While this move is a step in the right direction, it’s nowhere near enough.
The Alliance supports this ban, but also would like to see the full implementation of Peta Murphy’s report, as well as the implementation of the mandatory cashless card for Poker machines.

Kate Roberts from the Gambling Impact Society supports the ban but stresses that the government must go further. "You know, kicking things around the edges and not actually biting the bullet and it just actually is continuing the damage. I mean, effectively, Australians are the biggest losers in the world, and we've known that for years."

If the next election delivers a hung parliament, Teal MPs will demand a full gambling ad ban as part of negotiations. Goldstein MP Zoe Daniel is clear: "My position has been clear and consistent, as the Murphy report unequivocally found, partial gambling bans do not work," Mackellar MP Sophie Scamps highlights the devastating consequences, saying "We know that it increases people are losing their homes, domestic violence, losing their jobs it's having all sorts of public health implications, and we need to act," Wentworth MP Allegra Spender adds that her community supports the ban and expects action; "people in my community back a ban on gambling ads and this will be one of a number of priorities I continue to pursue if I am re-elected," she said.

With Labor delaying reform and betting companies fighting restrictions, independent Senator David Pocock is now calling for an inquiry into the gambling industry’s influence over government policy. Will politicians stand with the public—or with gambling giants?

New AEC figures expose how gambling companies continue to buy political influence. While the government considered reforms to sports gambling—then conveniently shelved them—Sportsbet donated $88,000, Tabcorp $60,500, and peak body Responsible Wagering Australia gave $66,000 to Labor.

This isn’t just loose change. It’s a clear attempt to keep the status quo—where gambling companies rake in billions while Australians face devastating gambling harm. We need real political will to break this toxic cycle and protect our communities from predatory gambling.

NSW’s Labor government will ban gambling ads on trains, buses, light rail, and stations, addressing concerns about their harmful impact, especially on children. This move responds to public pressure after ads for the sports gambling app Picklebet flooded Sydney’s transit network.

“Parents are rightly worried about the impact it [gambling advertising] has on their kids, so it’s not something that we think needs to be on our transport network,” said Transport Minister Jo Haylen.

Reverend Tim Costello, Chief Advocate for The Alliance, joined Gary Hardgrave on 4BC Drive: “Look, the short-sightedness and greed of both sides of politics saying, well, we have a shiny new building, the electorate will applaud us.”

“We’re not actually looking at their business model, which was crime and predatory gambling practices.”

We must prioritise people over profits. Join us in challenging the systems driving gambling harm.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese held a series of rapid meetings with top executives from TV networks, sports codes, and gambling stakeholders just weeks before backtracking on his pledge to tackle gambling ad reforms. Extracts from his diary, obtained under freedom of information laws, reveal that on August 30 last year, Mr Albanese made 10-minute calls with leaders from Network 10, Seven Network, Cricket Australia, and the AFL, and held a 20-minute face-to-face meeting with the NRL chairman and CEO.

These meetings, which insiders confirm discussed Labor’s proposal to curb gambling ads, leave us questioning: whose interests are really being served?

3 in 4 kids think gambling is a normal part of sport. Let’s protect the next generation. Donate today to help The Alliance end gambling harm.

Amid storms battering NSW with flooding, power outages, and tragic loss, a video has gone viral showing a woman playing pokies as water poured through the ceiling. She continued gambling , seemingly unfazed by the chaos around her.

This moment shines a harsh light on how gambling venues normalise harm. Even in dangerous situations, they provide a space where people can detach from reality, prioritising their next spin over personal safety.

It also highlights just how addictive the makers of poker machines make thier product, too often we blame the gambler when the industry spends billions making their products addicitve.

"Gambling losses rip $32 billion from the Australian Community yearly... And we're starting to talk to organisations that it is impacting including mental health, domestic violence and suicide prevention." - Martin Thomas, Alliance CEO.

The social harm extends beyond individuals. Families and communities feel the devastating ripple effects, as host Rob Cameron shared: “the ripple effect for those friends or family around the individual is quite horrendous… It is a really, really serious social problem, not just something that affects an individual every now and again.”

Young Australians are increasingly drawn to sports gambling, which is doubling every few years. Without urgent action, the harm is set to escalate in the next five years.

Despite public awareness campaigns and cultural shifts, men still struggle to talk about their mental health, meaning issues fester and can result in dire personal, social and relationships consequences.
💬 Men are less likely to seek help for their mental health issues
⚠️ Men are more likely to suicide without warning
🌙 Loneliness is more closely associated with depression than loss of job or low socio-economic status

Gambling harm exacerbates challenges across various aspects of life, often compounded by stigma and shame. It is associated with up to 20% of suicides and is closely linked to loneliness, depression, and low socioeconomic status, further deepening its negative impact.

It’s 2025: a new year and an election is on the horizon. Will our leaders have the courage to take action on gambling reform? We need to see Peta Murphy’s inquiry recommendations fully implemented — that means banning gambling ads, banning inducements, and creating a National Regulator.

This year, let’s hold our leaders accountable. Real change is possible — if they’re brave enough to act.

💪 Join the fight for reform.

Australians lose over $1,600 per person every year to gambling harm — the highest in the world.

This Boxing Day, let’s fight back. We need real reform to end the losses, protect families, and stop gambling harm for good.

Join The Alliance in delivering a knockout blow to gambling harm.

🥊 Donate today and help end gambling harm.

DEAR MPs: VICTORIA PROVES IT CAN BE DONE NO MORE EXCUSES

While Victoria takes bold action on poker machine reform, Tasmania's politicians walk past community suffering every day.

Your $50 helps fund this billboard right near Parliament House - where they can't ignore it.

No more hiding. No more excuses. Victoria proved reform is possible.

👉 Put your message in front of MPs. Support the billboard today.

Gambling harm is a growing public health crisis, hitting vulnerable people hardest: those facing poverty, discrimination, or major life challenges. As gambling markets expand, harm rises—threatening the WHO's Sustainable Development Goals on health, inequality, and justice.

Unregulated online gambling, aggressive advertising, and industry lobbying worsen the problem Population-wide measures like banning gambling ads, mandatory loss limits, and strict regulations are essential to protect communities.

“Gambling is a problem because of advertising. To say otherwise is an insult.” – Greg Baum.

Australia’s gambling ads fuel a crisis. Despite a federal inquiry calling for a ban, the government delays reform, catering to corporate interests. Like tobacco before it, banning gambling ads will protect communities without destroying sport.

The Alliance calls for urgent action to ban these intrusive ads and shield vulnerable Australians. Join us in the fight to end gambling harm.

An Australian father was shocked to hear Sportsbet ads play between Frozen and Bluey songs on Spotify, calling it “inappropriate and potentially damaging to my children.” Despite age restrictions, the ads were allegedly heard on his account while playing children’s music.

Sportsbet has paused advertising on Spotify but insists its ads exclude family content. Public health experts and politicians, including Senator David Pocock, say this incident highlights the urgent need for a total ban on gambling ads.

“Children are highly impressionable; exposure to gambling ads normalises and conditions them to gambling,” the father warned.

It’s time to protect our kids. Join The Alliance in the fight against gambling harm. Donate today.

The government has shelved gambling reforms, ignoring overwhelming public support for action. Mark Kempster, an Alliance advocate, reflects on the harm caused: "An overwhelming majority in Australia don't want to see gambling ads on TV anymore."

Children as young as six now know the odds better than the players, while parents struggle to shield their families from the relentless advertising. "We're the first generation having to explain gambling terms like multis to primary school kids," says Kempster.

Despite an inquiry delivering clear recommendations eight months ago, vested interests continue to block reforms. It’s time to put community safety ahead of corporate profits.

Ed, an advocate with The Alliance, shares how his gambling harm escalated "tenfold" after moving to Australia. Now, he’s fighting for change.

Up to 20% of suicides are linked to gambling harm, and the festive season sees a spike in risky behaviours. The late Peter Murphy’s inquiry called for a total ban on gambling ads, but despite public support, the government has delayed reforms until 2025, citing complexity and industry pressure.

https://youtube.com/shorts/Bc2IoD2Xkjg?feature=share

The Minns government is withholding a crucial report from the Independent Panel for Gambling Reform. This report could reveal solutions to billions in criminal "dirty" cash laundered through poker machines and address $8.1 billion in player losses last year. Alliance Chief Advocate Tim Costello previously called cashless gambling reform “historic” and essential for ending gambling harm. Yet progress stalls. Why is the government keeping this report from the public?

Alliance Voices Advocate, Mark Kempster, slams government inaction:

“Peta Murphy provided the government with an overwhelming comprehensive guide on how to help and protect people like me. Yet her party is doing everything they can to dismiss her legacy by continually kicking the can down the road.”

Mark has called on the government to honour Peta Murphy's legacy and ban gambling ads to protect Australians.

Victoria is slashing poker machine load-up limits from $1,000 to $100 and mandating carded play by 2027, setting the benchmark for tackling gambling harm. Meanwhile, Tasmania has delayed its reforms, choosing industry pressure over protecting families.

Tim Costello applauded Victoria’s move, stating, “Mandatory carded play is the long overdue reform… but it has always been defeated by the power of the predatory pokies industry.”

Kate* lost her brother to gambling harm when he was just 24. Despite seeking help and self-excluding, he was relentlessly targeted by gambling ads. “Inducements were definitely a turning point,” Kate explained. "He was so ashamed of himself and he took full responsibility for his addiction, which is absurd because this is a highly addictive product that literally changes brain chemistry, increasing dopamine thresholds.”

Australia loses $32 billion annually to gambling, with devastating effects on families like Kate’s. Despite overwhelming public support for a gambling ad ban, politicians have delayed action. It’s time to prioritise lives over profits.

Short Segment: https://youtu.be/XKrSGCUonAw

Tim Costello has slammed the government for failing to deliver a promised ban on gambling advertising, accusing them of bowing to vested interests like the AFL, NRL, and major media companies. The government previously pledged to pass reforms this year but has delayed action, leaving the public frustrated.

“It’s a fascinating insight into democracy. Seventy-two to 80 per cent, in different surveys, say Australians want a total ban – full Murphy report. And you normally say, ‘oh, well, if it that’s strong, that’s how democracy works, it will happen’,” Mr Costello said.

“The insight is not if the vested interests, the ones who have captured government ... say ‘don’t you dare’. The vested interests at the moment are frustrating what is overwhelming public opinion.”

The 2022 Murphy Inquiry recommended a total ban on gambling ads, reflecting public opinion. Yet reforms have stalled while Australians continue to be bombarded with gambling ads during live sports.

The decision by the Tasmanian Liberal Rockcliffe Government to backflip on becoming the first State to introduce a poker machine cashless card is an inexcusable capitulation to the power of the gambling lobby.

The Alliance’s Chief Advocate, Tim Costello, said he was shocked and devastated by the announcement by the Tasmanian Government to ‘defer progress’ on the cashless card system.

New figures showing poker machine losses in NSW have reached a record high of $8.64 billion are horrendous and underscore the urgent need for reform, the CEO of the Alliance, Martin Thomas, said.

The latest quarterly data from Liquor and Gambling NSW shows a 7 per cent increase in net profits for pubs and clubs – the steepest increase outside of the COVID rebound in at least six years. Mr Thomas said these losses represent social harm on an industrial scale across NSW and were exacerbating the cost of living crisis for countless battling families.

“There is clear evidence that a mandatory cashless card with pre-set loss limits would not only reduce criminal money laundering through poker machines but also dramatically reduce gambling harm,” Mr Thomas said.

SMH: https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/poker-machine-losses-hit-record-high-last-year-20250220-p5ldr7.html

NSW’s three newest MPs—Monica Tudehope, James Wallace, and Jacqui Scruby—used their first speeches to call out the damage caused by poker machines. The Alliance’s Tim Costello says they’ve shown “more leadership than [Premier Chris] Minns and Labor” on gambling reform.

Tudehope highlighted that Australia has “the worst gambling losses in the world,” while Wallace called for technology to be used to “empower people by establishing an effective exclusion register” and self-imposed limits. Scruby pushed for immediate action, saying, “It’s time to reignite the appetite and commitment to reform.”

It’s clear: NSW wants real change. Australia wants real change. The question is, will the government listen?

Young women are gambling at the same rates as men, yet stigma and lack of research leave many suffering in silence. Ella McIntosh lost $20,000 after downloading a solitaire gambling app at 19. "I felt really ashamed of it because there was nothing showing me that it's something that happens to women."

Research shows women aged 18–34 are most at risk, yet gambling companies continue targeting them with aggressive marketing. The government has had nearly two years to act on 31 recommendations from the You win some, you lose more report—but nothing has changed. Advocate Kate Seselja says, "There’s no excuse for not taking action to protect Australia's wellbeing."

Once, pokies were seen as a game for older Australians. Not anymore. Young people aged 18–24 are now the biggest demographic of poker machine users in Victoria.

Dr Charles Livingstone warns, "The old stereotype was people in their 40s, 50s and 60s...There is a trend that people who use pokies are increasingly younger people." With gambling harm rising, we can’t ignore this shift.

The pokies industry is targeting young Australians—it's time to push back.

Take a stand. Donate to The Alliance today.

The government has ignored the Murphy Report on gambling harm for nearly two years—despite over 70% of Australians wanting a ban on gambling ads. Mark Kempster, who bravely shared his lived experience, says: “It took a lot for us to give evidence... to have the government turn its back on us has been pretty disgusting.” The gambling lobby’s grip on politics is costing lives. Enough is enough. Ban gambling ads now.

Alliance Voices Advocate Mark Kempster lost $100,000 to online gambling and knows firsthand the harm it causes. Now an advocate for change, he’s fighting for urgent reforms—including a total ban on gambling ads.

"Every day these ads stay on TV, people fall back into addiction." Mark says he’s even had to stop watching live sport to protect his mental health. He accuses the government of failing Australians by delaying action on the Murphy Report, despite the Prime Minister promising to honour the late MP’s legacy.

"He's just kicked the can down the road." The report, which includes over 30 recommendations, still hasn’t been tabled in Parliament—nearly two years after Mark gave evidence.

The AFL is pushing for a bigger slice of gambling profits, negotiating with bookmakers to increase its cut from sports betting. Already making up to $40 million a year from these deals, the league wants an even greater share from bets on match results, player stats, and finals—potentially increasing its gambling revenue by more than 25% annually.

This deeper reliance on gambling money comes at a time when Australia faces mounting gambling harm. Fans should be able to enjoy the game without being bombarded by gambling ads and incentives. Instead of profiting from gambling losses, the AFL must take responsibility and break its toxic ties to the industry.

Bereaved families say coroners often overlook gambling’s role in suicides, leaving vital lessons unlearned. Many feel excluded from inquests, with critical evidence ignored.

Liz Ritchie from Gambling with Lives: “People are dying and it is not being properly established why.”

Up to 20% of suicides are linked to gambling harm, yet only one inquest has held a gambling firm accountable. Families are calling for urgent reform to ensure accountability and prevent future tragedies.

A major class action has been launched against Sportsbet, accusing the company of using its "fast code" service to bypass Australian laws designed to prevent gambling harm. These laws prohibit placing bets on sporting events after they’ve started unless done via a voice call.

Maurice Blackburn lawyer Elizabeth O’Shea stated, “We believe that Sportsbet’s use of the fast code service is not just an attempt to circumvent important laws aiming to prevent gambling harm, it is also illegal.” Lead plaintiff Jeremy Bergman claims to have lost $2,307 using the service.

A common myth: the more you gamble, the more likely it’s “your turn” to win. The reality? Each time you gamble, the odds are the same—and they’re stacked against you.

Breaking free from myths like the gambler’s fallacy helps you take back control. Recognising that poker machines, gambling apps, and other gambling avenues are designed to be addictive reveals the predatory nature of the industry. Don’t be the prey!

Randomness doesn’t owe you a win or predict a loss.

Australians lose $32 billion to gambling annually—$1,500 per person! Yet, the federal government delays reform, ignoring recommendations for a total ban on gambling ads. Alliance CEO Martin Thomas highlights the shocking toll: up to 1 in 5 suicides linked to gambling harm.

Powerful groups and gambling companies block change while showering politicians with gifts and donations. The losers? Everyday Australians, especially families facing a cost-of-living crisis.

“Alliance CEO Martin Thomas: “We can't underestimate the cost-of-living crisis that's happening. It may seem in the cold light of day, a little bit ironic, but people are more likely to gamble when they're under financial stress. When people were under enormous financial stress-sometimes it impairs their decision making; they see the opportunity for a payout and they start to gamble, and once they start gambling, they start to chase their losses, and it spirals out of control.

“Some states like Victoria are moving to what we what they describe as a cashless card system, where people can predetermine how much they want to lose at the beginning of the week and then once they reach that loss limit, they stopped from gambling for a few days until the next week comes around. That's something Queensland government could definitely do and would make an enormous difference.”

Surf clubs are at the heart of Aussie culture—family-friendly venues offering lifesaving services and breathtaking beachfront views. Yet, these beloved spaces are tainted by the presence of pokies, which cause devastating gambling harm.

On the Gold Coast alone, 17 surf clubs host 583 pokies, collecting a staggering $46M annually. Despite claims that gambling profits support the community, reports show venues typically return just 2% of these earnings to charity. Meanwhile, taxpayers heavily subsidise these clubs, providing them with prime beachfront land.

Pokies are linked to rising family violence, relationship breakdowns, and even suicides. Research reveals gambling harm affects not just players but six others around them. Removing pokies won’t compromise lifesaving services but could restore the values these clubs stand for.

In 2025, we want to see the government to make meaningful changes to gambling reform. We want to see Peta Murphy’s inquiry report fully implemented — all 31 recommendations. This means banning gambling ads, banning inducements, and creating a National Regulator.

With your support, we’ll keep pushing for safer communities and real change. Let’s make 2025 the year we end gambling harm!

As 2024 draws to a close, we want to thank each and every one of you for your support, dedication, and passion in the fight to end gambling harm. Your commitment fuels real change and brings us closer to a safer, fairer future for all Australians.

Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful and restful Christmas. Together, we’ll continue the fight for reform in 2025!

#GamblingReform #ThankYou #MerryChristmas

A heartfelt thank you to our partner, the Reichstein Foundation, for empowering The Alliance to achieve significant strides in gambling reform this year. Your unwavering support has helped us challenge harmful systems, raise awareness, and protect our communities from gambling harm.

Together, we’re driving real change and building a fairer, healthier Australia. The fight isn’t over — let’s keep the momentum going and make 2025 even more impactful!

Gambling harm is a silent epidemic affecting Australian women. From caregivers to professionals, women are slipping through the cracks, trapped by stigma and shame. Support services remain inadequate, and the government refuses to ban harmful gambling ads. As Anna Martin, founder of The Untangle Project, says, "This is a public health crisis for Australian women, and it will persist until meaningful change becomes a primary, well-funded, and ongoing priority for our country."

Alliance Voices Advocate, Nelson knows firsthand the impact of gambling harm on the Australian Chinese community. As an affected other he watched his community struggle with it since the day he was born. Now, Nelson does art installations that express that story.

In the Australian Chinese community poker machines are known as ‘tiger machines’, Nelson explained; "The term ‘tiger machine’ came from the translation of ‘poker machine’ in English. In Chinese, the characters are tiger and machine and for me that just really struck a chord because it emphasised the predatory nature of these machines, and of gambling.”

SBS Story: https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/en/podcast-episode/are-gambling-organisations-targeting-cald-communities/psvmjr4cb

Mark Kempster, a lived experience advocate for The Alliance, signed up to the Albanese government’s self-exclusion register BetStop and its state equivalents. He hoped these measures would protect him. Instead, he says, “You feel like you can’t escape it.”

BetStop is supposed to block online gambling and stop marketing messages. Yet, self-excluded gamblers like Mark are still being targeted by offshore companies. These operators exploit loopholes, and the industry regulator is doing little to stop them. BetStop doesn’t cover offshore companies, leaving vulnerable Australians unprotected.

“Every day you delay action on these regulations is another day that another young Australian, or any Australian, falls into an addiction because of what we’re subjected to at the moment in the media.” – Mark Kempster

Mark Kempster, who lost $100,000 to gambling, is fighting for change. He describes the government’s refusal to act on a proposed phased ban on gambling ads as “ridiculous” and “disappointing.”

“We can’t watch sport. We can’t enjoy sport without having gambling advertising shoved down our throats,” says Mark. He adds: “Every week, I get a different young person in Australia messaging me [about gambling harm].”

Mark urges action: “I don’t want people to go through the issues I went through.”

These aren't just numbers – it's families struggling to put food on the table. Kids missing out on school activities. Bills going unpaid.

Victoria proved reform is possible. Your state's politicians have NO excuse.

Help us fight for Victorian-style reforms where you live. Every day of delay means more families torn apart by gambling harm.

👉 Make change happen in your state - donate now

Gambling ads on Sydney trains sparked outrage, with critics highlighting the impact on vulnerable communities, including children. Alliance CEO Martin Thomas said: "These are adverts on a train that anyone can see at any age, and it really is aimed at normalising gambling across the community."

Australia led the world in gambling losses last year, with Australians losing $32 billion—up from $28 billion. Gambling ads, identified as a "major culprit" in these losses by the Grattan Institute, encouraged risky behaviours and harmed public health.

The government has delayed long-awaited gambling ad reforms, admitting no revised timeline for responding to the 2022 Murphy report, which called for a total ban on gambling ads. Mark Kempster, an advocate with the Alliance, contacted the Communications Minister’s office this week, expressing his frustration:

“The effect the constant delays is having on all of us who gave evidence at Peta’s inquiry is taking a massive toll on us. To wait up to 20 months for any type of response and actions surely cannot be acceptable,” he said.

In reply, a staff member apologised, acknowledging the toll the inaction has caused but offering no clear timeline for reform.

Tim Costello added “It takes backbone to protect children in this nation against very powerful vested interests. The failure to show that backbone has let Australians down.”

Tim Costello, Chief Advocate for The Alliance, has slammed the Labor government for abandoning Peta Murphy’s legacy on gambling reform. Despite 70% of Australians supporting a gambling ad ban, the government has “squibbed any reform at all,” bowing to pressure from vested interests like sports betting companies, media giants, and sporting bodies.

Costello said: “What happened is pretty simple in my view. The vested interests cowed the PM into dishonouring Murphy’s legacy. Those vested interests start with the obscenely rich foreign-owned sports betting companies.”

With over a million gambling ads bombarding free-to-air TV annually, families are demanding change. Gambling ads are grooming children and normalising harm. Let’s protect our kids and hold the government accountable.

🚨 The Alliance is fighting for safer communities by addressing gambling harm. CEO Martin Thomas outlines three urgent priorities:
1️⃣ Online gambling & advertising bans: With over 1 million gambling ads aired annually, the industry's overreach is blatant. Ads targeting kids through sport and social media are grooming the next generation. It’s time to ban gambling ads and inducements entirely.
2️⃣ Poker machines in local venues: Australia is one of the only countries where poker machines are in neighbourhood pubs, not just casinos, exacerbating gambling harm.
3️⃣ Casino regulation failures: Despite scandals, casinos continue unchecked, exposing glaring flaws in oversight.

Australia loses a staggering $32 billion annually to gambling, much of it from those already struggling. Gambling harm affects families, fuels domestic violence, and contributes to as many as 20% of suicides in Australia.

With bipartisan and crossbench support, The Alliance is leading the charge to pressure the government to implement the Murphy Report’s 31 recommendations—a blueprint for the most significant gambling reforms in Australian history.

🔗 Join the fight to end gambling harm. Donate now to help drive change.

The chair of the Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission Jenny Cranston tells Leon Compton on ABC Tasmania Mornings that the other harm-reduction initiatives the government has committed to, including facial recognition, are ineffective.

"I'm incredibly disappointed and very very very saddened by the fact that we had almost within our grasp the ground-breaking initiative that would protect so many Tasmanians and be so good for this industry," she says.

✓ Mandatory cashless gambling cards
✓ $100 daily loss limits
✓ $5000 yearly limits
✓ No industry exemptions

Help us win this fight. Sign the petition now.

Queenslanders are losing a staggering $3.5 billion a year to poker machines—over $9.5 million every single day. These losses have jumped 46% since the pandemic, hitting communities hard, especially in areas with lower household incomes like Logan, Lockyer Valley, and Ipswich.

"The gambling industry is predatory. It targets low-income households in many cases, people who can least afford to lose this money," says The Alliance’s Martin Thomas. With 41,000 pokies in pubs and clubs across the state—not including casinos—the industry is raking in billions while families suffer.

The solution? Mandatory cashless gambling cards. These cards, already being introduced in Victoria, allow people to set limits before they play—preventing devastating losses before they happen. NSW is also considering similar reforms after a trial. Queensland must act now to protect vulnerable communities.

A UK high court has ruled that Sky Betting & Gaming unlawfully targeted a vulnerable gambler with relentless marketing, despite clear signs of gambling harm. Sam, who lost 10 years of his life to gambling, was bombarded with 1,389 promotional emails, even after trying to quit. The company used sophisticated profiling to predict his behaviour—but not to protect him.

Lawyer Ravi Naik called the ruling a “death knell for this kind of pernicious activity: tick-boxes, mass surveillance and data sharing, all unbeknownst to the user.”

This exposes how gambling companies exploit people for profit. Regulators must act now to stop these harmful practices.

Gambling companies have been secretly sharing user data with Facebook’s parent, Meta—without consent. This data is used to profile people as gamblers and bombard them with gambling ads, violating data protection laws.

Data privacy expert Wolfie Christl says: “Sharing data with Meta is highly problematic, even with consent, but doing so without explicit informed consent shows a blatant disregard for the law.”

Gambling companies are preying on young men, turning sports into a tool for profit. Mobile betting apps—designed like poker machines—flood our screens, promising “easy wins” but delivering gambling harm instead. Research shows 16.3% of young sports bettors develop gambling addiction, and bankruptcies are rising where betting is legal. With dopamine-driven instant bets on every play, gambling isn’t about skill—it’s a trap.

It’s time to call this what it is: a public health crisis. We need stronger regulations and an end to gambling’s grip on sport.

After the release of the latest donation figures this week through the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) Transparency Register, the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) and Alliance for Gambling Reform (AGR) jointly called for alcohol and gambling companies to be excluded from making political donations.

CEO of AGR Martin Thomas said, “The evidence shows these donations spike at times when reforms are being considered. It is a blatant attempt to undermine reform and in doing so it is an attack on our democratic process.

“With political willpower it is absolutely possible for gambling and alcohol companies to be excluded from donating – we saw it with tobacco, now let’s see it for these other industries that are causing significant health and social harms in our communities," He said.

Media Release:

Patrons lost nearly $30 million to pokies in Port Phillip last year, including $2.1 million at the Bleakhouse Hotel—featured in a council-funded Broadsheet promotion. Promoting pokies venues undermines community health and wellbeing.

We urge the City of Port Phillip to follow the lead of other Victorian councils and recognise pokies as a harmful product. Councils have a vital role in protecting community health, and pokies venues should never be promoted.

If you live in Port Phillip and you’re concerned about the effects of pokies venues, we encourage you to write to the Mayor and Councillors.

Labor has reportedly shelved its plan to curb gambling ads until after the election, bowing to pressure from media, betting giants, and major sports leagues. This delay means more relentless gambling ads, more harm, and more lives at risk.

Alliance Voices Advocate Mark Kempster said: "This report in the SMH shows the Prime Minster is beholden to Peter V'landys and the gambling lobby in this country. He has turned his back on every vulnerable Australian like myself who are having their lives ruined on a daily basis by this insidious, predatory industry. He has also turned his back on former Labor MP Peta Murphy, who he promised to 'honour her legacy'. He hasn't even come close to doing that and should be ashamed."

Media Release: https://www.agr.org.au/agr-media-releases/no-action-is-the-worst-response-of-all-to-gambling-harm-

Join The Alliance in our mission to prevent and reduce gambling harm in Australia! We're seeking a part-time Engagement Support Officer to play a vital role in strengthening our partnerships, supporting our Leadership Councils, and growing our advocacy efforts.

📍 Location: Work from home or hybrid
📆 Closing Date: 24 Feb, 2025
💡 Role Highlights:

🔹 Engage with our incredible Leadership Councils who help drive gambling reform.
🔹 Build and maintain partnerships with local councils across Australia to promote sustainable change.
🔹 Coordinate communication to share updates on campaigns, events, and advocacy work.
🔹 Help secure new partnerships and funding opportunities.

This is your chance to contribute to a just, healthy, and prosperous Australia, free from gambling harm. Apply now and be part of meaningful change!

New research reveals that Victorian RSLs earned $2.1bn from poker machines between 2009 and 2019, yet only 1.5% of this revenue went towards veteran welfare. Despite tax concessions requiring RSLs to allocate 8.3% of gambling revenue to community contributions, most of these funds were spent on business expenses such as wages and venue maintenance.

Dr Louise Francis, who led the study, criticised this model as "an excessively inefficient approach to funding community initiatives" and questioned the RSL’s reliance on gambling, stating: “Why is the RSL so committed to being connected with gambling when there is so, so much harm attributed to the cohort that they’re supposed to be protecting?”

Read the research: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1326020024000906?via%3Dihub

According to neuroscientist Dean Burnett, gambling can hijack the brain’s reward system, making it as addictive as drugs. But unlike drug addictions, gambling harm is harder to detect and treat. Burnett explains that gambling operates on a “variable reinforcement schedule,” meaning wins are unpredictable. This unpredictability fuels addiction, keeping people hooked even when they lose repeatedly.

Shockingly, up to 90% of gambling harm cases go unreported because there’s no physical substance to identify or remove. Prevention is crucial to breaking this cycle. Reducing exposure to gambling is our best chance to even the odds and protect lives.

That’s why we need the Government and Opposition to publicly support the 31 findings of the Murphy Report, including creating a national regulator, banning all gambling ads within three years, banning inducements, and imposing a levy on the gambling industry to fund harm reduction measures.

South Australia is leading the charge for healthier communities by banning junk food ads on public transport from 1 July 2025. Ads for unhealthy products like chocolate, soft drinks, and chips will no longer appear on Adelaide Metro buses, trains, and trams. This bold move targets obesity, now Australia’s leading risk factor for disease burden.

But what about gambling ads? The Alliance believes they should be next on the list. Harmful advertising, whether it’s junk food or gambling, targets vulnerable communities and puts profits above people. It’s time to take action and extend protections even further.

Join us in advocating for a safer, healthier future. Donate to The Alliance today.

In 2025, The Alliance celebrates a decade of fighting gambling harm. Here’s why we must keep pushing for reform:

1️⃣ $1,600 lost per Australian every year—the highest worldwide.
2️⃣ Gambling linked to up to 20% of suicides.
3️⃣ Families experiencing gambling harm face 3x higher domestic violence risk.
4️⃣ 75% of kids aged 8–16 know sports gambling brands.
5️⃣ Normalised gambling in sport—3 in 4 kids think it’s “just part of the game.”
6️⃣ Gambling ads tied to increased harm.
7️⃣ Over 880,000 Australians are problem or at-risk gamblers.
8️⃣ 72% of Australians want gambling ads banned.
9️⃣ Reducing gambling by 10% could prevent thousands of crimes annually.
🔟 Together, we can protect our communities.

Help us drive change. Donate today 💪

In 2025, The Alliance marks a decade of advocacy against gambling harm. For 10 years, we've worked tirelessly to protect communities and push for reform. Join us as we reflect on our impact and continue the fight to make gambling harm a thing of the past.

Help us make the next decade even stronger. Donate today to fuel the fight for reform! 💪

As we welcome a new year, let’s commit to protecting our communities from gambling harm. Australians lost $32 billion to gambling in 2022/23 — and families are paying the price.

It’s time for real reform: a full ban on gambling ads, stronger protections, and a safer future for all.

Join The Alliance and make 2024 the year we end gambling harm.

🎆 Take action: Donate today to support gambling reform.

Tonight, children dream of joy and hope — but for too many families, gambling harm steals that joy. Australia’s gambling losses are soaring, and kids are growing up thinking it’s normal.

Help us fight for a future where families thrive, free from gambling harm. The time for reform is now.

🎄 Join The Alliance: Donate today and help create a brighter tomorrow.

Right now, the gambling industry's lobbyists are working overtime to delay reform. We can't let them win.

Every day of delay means more families affected by gambling harm. More children exposed to predatory ads. More lives impacted.

Your donation will help us:

✔️ Keep pressure on politicians to act now
✔️ Counter the gambling industry's influence
✔️ Amplify the voices of those harmed by gambling

Sportsbet's Snapchat filters are exposing children to gambling ads, despite supposed 18+ restrictions. Kids are seeing friends use filters that promote gambling accounts, turning fun into harmful exposure. It's clear: gambling ads are infiltrating young people’s lives.

A total ban on gambling ads is overdue. Our kids deserve protection from these predatory practices. Support the fight against gambling harm — donate to The Alliance today!

The Alliance supports a mandatory cashless gambling card with robust harm minimisation features, including binding pre-commitment limits and reasonable defaults. Voluntary or anonymous systems fail to prevent gambling harm and won’t stop money laundering.

NSW Labor’s failed trial shows piecemeal approaches don’t work. A cashless card can reduce money laundering and gambling harm, but only if it’s mandatory and designed to protect vulnerable gamblers—not just the industry.

A study by Roy Morgan revealed that gambling on poker machines between 2am and 8am dramatically increased the risk of gambling harm. Nearly two-thirds of late-night gamblers faced severe negative consequences, and over 22% were classified as experiencing significant gambling harm.

Despite this, the NSW gambling reform panel's draft report only supported a six-hour pokies shutdown starting no later than 4am—ignoring evidence that late-night gambling primarily impacted those already vulnerable.

Research statistician Matthew Stevens stated, “It was really, really clear. The later at night people played the pokies, the more likely they were to be experiencing gambling harm.”

“But if you bring in gambling cards with set limits, it doesn’t matter when venues are open. They can be open 24 hours because once people hit that limit, they can’t gamble any more.”

Communities deserve better. We need mandatory cashless cards with set limits, , and we need more programs like Libraries After Dark, which provide free, safe, and friendly alternatives to spending the evening at the pokies.

The Alliance and Chief Advocate Tim Costello are spearheading a new Christmas campaign to hold the government accountable for tackling gambling ads. With Australia facing the world’s highest gambling losses per person, the harm is undeniable: families are devastated, domestic violence rates triple in homes affected by gambling, and children are exposed to relentless ads normalising gambling.

72% of Australians support a full gambling ad ban, echoing the late MP Peter Murphy’s courageous recommendations. Yet, despite bipartisan potential, PM Anthony Albanese has delayed action—leaving the issue unresolved and lives at risk.

The ACT Government reaffirms its commitment to mandatory cashless gaming, rejecting calls to delay reforms after Tasmania shelved its plans for a pre-commitment card.

Tim Costello of The Alliance called Tasmania’s backtrack an "inexcusable capitulation" to the gambling lobby, highlighting Melbourne's Crown Casino as proof that cashless systems are feasible.

The ACT's progressive agenda includes cashless gaming, machine reductions, and a club sector inquiry—all vital steps to reduce gambling harm.

18 months after promising to ban sports gambling ads, the Albanese government has failed to deliver. Despite labelling these ads "reprehensible," legislative action has been shelved until at least 2025.

Alliance Chief Advocate Tim Costello says, “The vested interests at the moment are frustrating what is overwhelming public opinion.” Independent MP Andrew Wilkie slammed the delay as “one of the most shocking betrayals of the community I’ve seen in my 14 years in parliament.”

Public hearings have shown the devastating impacts of gambling harm, yet corporate lobbying continues to stall reforms. Australians deserve action, not excuses.

Tasmania was about to introduce Australia's strongest gambling reforms - mandatory cashless cards with $100 daily and $5,000 yearly loss limits to protect families from pokies harm.

The government abandoned these life-changing protections after pressure from the gambling industry.

Sign now to demand they put Tasmanian families first.

The federal government has deferred its response to the Murphy Report on online gambling harm, sparking outrage.

Alliance CEO Martin Thomas said: “It beggars belief that a report by a Labor MP, with the unanimous support of all the political parties on the committee, could be delivered almost 18 months ago now and neither the government or the opposition has made any official response to its recommendations.”

With 70% of Australians supporting a ban on gambling ads, Thomas warns: “if politicians don’t lead on this issue, there will be a backlash at the polls.”

It’s time for urgent reform to protect Australians.

Rev Tim Costello’s advocacy for justice began in his youth and solidified when he witnessed the devastating impact of pokies on a mother jailed for four years after losing $60,000 to gambling harm. It was a pivotal moment that sparked his decades-long fight against gambling harm and inequality.

Reflecting on the systemic issues enabling such harm, Costello notes there were no protections or consumer warnings when pokies were introduced. He warns that Australia’s social fabric is under strain but remains hopeful: "I fear for my grandchildren. But if I give in to despair, that’s much worse. That’s not fair to my grandchildren, the next generation."

Join The Alliance to combat gambling harm. Together, we can create a fairer future. Donate today.

The Tasmanian Government has back flipped on a promise to implement a universal cashless card which would limit the amount of money people could spend on pokies annually.

“The government has effectively moved to protect the obscene super profits that are being made in Tasmania’s 90 poker machine venues – at the cost of the public of Tasmania who are being devastated by pokies losses.” Said Alliance Chief Advocate Tim Costello

MP for Nelson, Meg Webb on ABC Radio: