15 November 2024

Watered down reforms will not work: Christian advocates 

Picture: iStock

Hannah Felsbourg

23 August 2024

Christian advocates are calling for a full ban on gambling ads to protect vulnerable Australians as Labor discusses reforms to limit gambling ads on television. 

Advocates believe a full ban is necessary to protect young people who are at a higher risk of developing a gambling addiction after being exposed to gambling advertising.  

Chief advocate the Reverend Tim Costello said the Alliance for Gambling Reform believed gambling harm would only be reduced effectively by a full ban on gambling advertising. 

He said the greatest predictor of later addiction to gambling and the harm that came with it was seeing gambling advertising as a child.  

“If you want to protect children, you have a full ban. If you want to protect bookies’ profits, you have a partial ban,” he said. 

Mr Costello said the AGR was pleased when the Murphy report, a House of Representatives committee report, released in June 2023 had multi-partisan support for a full ban on gambling advertising introduced over three years. 

He said, however, that the new policy being proposed by Labor for a partial ban on gambling advertising was watered down beyond recognition. 

He said only a complete ban would reduce harm, as proven when partial bans on tobacco advertising were ineffective at lowering smoking rates among children.

Read more: Stop blame game to address gambling damage: Advocates

Mr Costello said Australia had the greatest gambling losses in the world, 40 per cent higher than the nation that came second. 

He said gambling harm included marriage breakdowns, up to 20 per cent of suicides, a threefold increase in domestic violence, and theft. 

“[People who commit crimes to fund gambling addictions] go to jail. The foreign sports spending agencies keep the profits,” he said. 

Mr Costello said at least 13 backbenchers said the proposed gambling advertisement limit policy was insufficient, and Labour had yet to announce whether it would be accepted. 

Wesley Mission chief executive officer the Reverend Stu Cameron said gambling reform was more than a justice issue — it was a gospel issue. 

He said the gambling industry preyed on vulnerable people, but Jesus gave Christians the example of bringing freedom to the oppressed. 

Mr Cameron said the Murphy report was thorough and was based on evidence from public health experts, academics, and people with lived experience of gambling harm. 

He said the report’s 31 unanimous recommendations, including a full ban on gambling advertising, should have been implemented in full. 

He believed these measures were necessary to curb the influence of the gambling industry and protect vulnerable communities from addiction and harm. 

Read more: How faith groups helped push gambling onto the NSW election agenda

Mr Cameron said research showed being exposed to gambling advertising made young adults more likely to become addicted to gambling. 

He said a 2020 NSW Youth survey of teenagers aged 12 to 17 showed 30 per cent had participated in gambling in the past year. 

The survey showed one in fifty teenagers aged 12 to 17 was already an at-risk gambler, even before they were legally able to gamble. 

“13-year-olds today have never seen a game of AFL or NRL without it being associated with gambling products,” he said. 

Mr Cameron said Wesley Mission founded the first dedicated gambling support service in Australia where they provided counselling services. 

He said Christian organisations would continue to render assistance to those experiencing gambling harm, but that it was important to question the system that led to such harm. 

He urged Christians to be informed on the issue of gambling reform and said they could write to their local MP to ask them what their position was on the issue. 

For assistance with gambling harm please call Gambler’s Help on 1800 858 858.  

If you or anyone you know needs support, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14. 

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