Labor proposes a unified opt-out register to block online gambling ads

As part of amendments to its wagering advertising bill, the Labor government will introduce a single-service opt-out register for gambling ads, similar to the Do Not Call list for unsolicited calls. Communications Minister Anika Wells said the scheme will be financed by a levy imposed on licensed interactive wagering service providers and administered by the Australian Communications and Media Authority. The change responds to concerns raised during a Senate inquiry that current platform-specific opt-out options are hard to locate and rarely used.

The government’s approach balances calls for an opt-in framework or a full advertising ban by offering a more accessible “one-stop shop” for consumers. Additional provisions in a third bill aim to curb inducements, restrict direct marketing to certain customers, and prohibit commission-based referral arrangements. The reforms are slated for rapid passage through parliament, with hopes of clearing both houses by the end of Thursday.