Source : Perth Now news
Wagering companies will be forced to pay a levy in order to fund an advertising campaign for a national self-exclusion register for problem gamblers.
The federal government will introduce laws on Wednesday to limit the number of gambling ads per hour, as well as scrap all ads during sports matches.
Among the measures are also plans to get gambling companies to fork out money for a campaign spruiking the exclusion register BetStop.
Communications Minister Anika Wells said the campaign would allow for more gamblers to be made aware of the tool.
“BetStop is the most effective thing to helping people suffering from the harms of gambling to reduce their practice,” she told reporters in Canberra.
“Only one in three people who made a punt in the last 12 months actually know about it, so that’s about building that awareness.”
The register allows for people who sign up to be blocked from licensed Australian betting services in a single location.
The latest figures from the communications watchdog showed just under 60,000 people have registered to self-exclude.
As of the end of March, 37,247 people still had exclusions in place.
Ms Wells said she hoped for consensus from parliament on the reforms in order for them to be in place by January.
“Part of the reform package also speaks to banning pocket pokies and addressing things that are being currently a bit unregulated, like online lotteries, overseas lotteries, where there are no consumer protections for Australian users,” she said.
Greens communication spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young said the government did not go far enough on gambling reform.
She said plans to limit gambling ads to specific times did not protect people, specifically children properly.
“It’s a half-arsed measure that will not protect families. We all know kids don’t go to bed at 8.30 while in the middle of watching their favourite football team,” she told reporters.
“The government needs to grow a spine here, stare down the gambling lobby. Stare down the big online media companies that are reaping the benefits of their advertising.”
National Gambling Helpline 1800 858 858
