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 that 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.
The Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026 and its associated National Self-exclusion Register (Cost Recovery Levy) Amendment Bill 2026 were introduced in Parliament on 2 July 2026, and will enact these reforms.
The reforms will commence on 1 January 2027.
The government is separately progressing work to make match-fixing criminal offences consistent across Australia, improve the integrity of Australian sport and lessen its appeal as a target for criminal infiltration.
The Department of Social Services is leading delivery of the government's announced reforms to both:
- 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
- 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.