Submission into Gambling

Submission

Inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on those experiencing gambling harm.

Who is Christian Voice Australia (CVA)?

CVA is a national non-denominational Christian organisation advocating on issues of family, faith, and freedom with a view to defending and promoting life. We work to ensure that those in power respect human dignity and individuals’ rights.

About the Australian Director

Greg Bondar is a social, political, and economic commentator advocating for pro-life issues. He has been quoted in most national newspapers, heard on national radio ABC, 2GB, and 6PR, and has appeared before numerous state and federal committees of inquiries.

Greg has been CEO of major national and international advocacy, industry, professional, and charity organisations. He was also at one time a Senior Adviser to a federal government Minister.

He has worked for numerous pro-life and Christian organisations and was most recently the national Media Spokesman and Australian Campaign Director for the international advocacy organisation CitizenGO.

Our Submission

It’s so important that we each have our say on the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs inquiry into on online gambling and its impacts on those experiencing gambling harm.

This submission is in two Parts:

1. TV Advertising

The Proposal by CVA to the Committee is to restrict through legislation ALL gambling advertising between the hours of 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm on free-to-air TV. This time slot is the peak family viewing time with research indicating that online gambling adverts dominate the ‘News’ hour in particular.

2. Research

The attached research shows the impact of online gambling on the ‘family’ and the individual. The supporting material is a collection of extracts for the Committee to follow up on as and if needed to convince the Committee of the need for restricting online gambling advertisements.

1. TV Advertising

Christian Voice Australia (CVA) notes that research indicates that gambling increases during times of grief or separation, breakdown of a relationship, changes in physical health, feelings of shame, depression, anxiety or stress, loss of work including redundancy and isolation, and loneliness which were all prevalent under current economic and societal conditions.

Past Survation polls into the gambling habits of Australians during COVID-19 found that regular gamblers said they were gambling more. A quarter of those who typically bet at least once a week said they were still doing so, while 28 percent had increased their activity, and 11 percent said they were gambling a lot more.

The survey of 1000 gamblers also found that 41 percent of people who bet had opened a new online account since the pandemic took hold. And more than a third of regular gamblers believed they were either spending too much on the habit or were fast developing an addiction.

Families are appalled that gambling companies continue to advertise ‘sports betting’ on Television between 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm (peak viewing and News time) especially when the sport is not being shown. It’s time for an ‘All Bets Off campaign’ by all Australians to stop gambling advertisements being shown between 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm.

UK gambling firms agreed to halt all their advertising during the nation’s COVID lockdown amid fears problem gambling is escalating during isolation.  We now similarly urge all gambling firms in Australia to voluntarily agree to follow this lead and put a halt to all advertising on Radio and TV from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm in peak viewing times during this difficult and challenging cost of living times for all Australians.

It is disappointing that industry and State and National regulatory* bodies such as the Australian Association of National Advertisers Code of Ethics (AANA), Australian Communications and Media Authority, and the ACCC have not recognized the added risks of problem gambling during anxious times.

In Australia, advertising for betting products is not permitted during TV programs classified G or lower from 6 am to 8.30 am and 4 pm to 7 pm, or in programs directed at children between 5 am and 8.30 pm. On 30 March 2018, bans on gambling ads during broadcasts of the live sport were introduced between 5 am and 8.30 pm.

“There is a strong argument to consider the reporting of sport on TV News and Radio as failing under these guidelines so why is it allowed?  Gambling advertising during the NEWS hour is blatant exploitation of vulnerable people during family time viewing.

Unemployment, family matters, and cost of living have created major life event changes and stressful situations, for many Australians, which invariably leads some to take up gambling and/or forces the problem out of control.

Anecdotal evidence shows that currently in Australia, following the postponement of sports such as the NRL and AFL, gamblers have reportedly moved into riskier pursuits such as online casino games.

CVA continues its call on all MPs, if they genuinely care for the mental and physical health of their constituents, to support our call for curbs on gambling, including a moratorium on advertising, during the NEWS hour. There is every indication that gamblers are potentially at-risk during family viewing times and beyond.

• Screen Shots of Gambling Advertising on TV during News – Australia

• Screen Shots Below of Gambling Advertising on TV during News – Overseas

* Regulation

Gambling regulation in Australia and each state and territory.

Australia – The Department of Social Services

Australian Capital Territory – ACT Gambling and Racing Commission

New South Wales – Office for Liquor, Gaming and Racing

Northern Territory – Department of Business, Northern Territory Government

Queensland – Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation

South Australia – Independent Gambling Authority

Tasmania – Department of Treasury and Finance

Victoria – Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation

Western Australia – Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor

2. Research

• The global online gambling industry had total gross gaming win of $82.6 billion in 2021, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.8% between 2016 and 2021.
• The sports betting segment was the industry’s most lucrative in 2021, with total gross gaming win of $33.7 billion, equivalent to 40.7% of the industry’s overall value.

References:

• Sports Betting Is Grooming Young Minds to Be Addictive Gamblers
• Are gambling ads destined to go the way of tobacco ads?
• Global Online Gambling Market 2022-2026
• Vulnerable Brits Turning to Gambling to Help with Rising Bills
• Gambling participation, experience of harm and community views
• More gambling warnings for the world’s biggest losers – The New Daily
• Families and gambling: Helping parents and improving outcomes for children
• ‘It’s self-harm’: what happens when online gamblers don’t know how much they’ve lost
• Healing Australia’s gambling disease – with Sandy Grant and Stu Cameron

Submitted via Email to:

Committee Secretary
House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs
PO Box 6021
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
spla.reps@aph.gov.au

April 2023