The Australian Government is taking action to protect vulnerable Australians – particularly children and young people – from online gambling harms.
On 2 April 2026, the Government announced a package of measures which form the Government’s forward agenda to reduce online gambling harms in Australia. The package includes:
- restrictions on wagering advertising, including a ban during live sports and in sports venues
- boosting enforcement action against illegal gambling services
- strengthening the operation of BetStop – the National Self-Exclusion Register
- addressing harmful and emerging online lottery products
- making match-fixing criminal offences consistent across Australia, improving the integrity of Australian sport and lessening its appeal as a target for criminal infiltration.
The government will develop legislation to implement these measures, with the reforms to begin from 1 January 2027. Further details will be refined through the legislative drafting process, which will include consultation with relevant stakeholders.
The department has published a frequently asked questions document that provides additional information on these reforms.
The Department of Social Services is leading delivery of the government’s announced reforms to:
- expand specialised financial counselling services for people who are experiencing financial hardship as a result of gambling harm to help them address their financial challenges, make informed choices, and build long-term financial capability, and
- work to increase public awareness of online gambling harms to communication the risks and harms posed by online gambling, encourage safer gambling behaviours, increase help seeking and reduce stigma associated with gambling harm.