Australia ‘ s Prime Minister Anthony Albanis, speaking to the National News Club on Thursday, announced stricter restrictions on the advertising of lottery on television, radio, digital platforms and sports stadiums. He added that the Government would also combat illegal offshore websites and ban other forms of online games, including the Kino game and the application and website of tiger imitators.
Albanis is under increasing pressure to implement a landmark report led by the late Labour Member Peta Murphy. The report, submitted in June 2023, contained 31 recommendations, including a phased ban on all forms of online lottery advertising. Australian regulators have in the past imposed restrictions on such content. Last week, the Australian Communications and Media Authority took action against a number of cyberreds suspected of illegal promotion. The new reform measures will be more comprehensive and are scheduled to enter into force next January. Television advertisements can only be broadcast three times an hour between 6 a.m. and 8.30 p.m., while radio advertisements are banned from the school hours. Web advertisements are shown only to users over 18 years of age who can also choose to block them. Propaganda may not be promoted by celebrities and athletes, and the stadium and the uniforms of athletes and government personnel may not be sponsored.
In its statement, the Australian Responsible Industry Association criticized the measure as “draconian” and warned that the future might also affect alcohol, sugar beverages, fast food, minerals and other industries. The Association ‘ s Chief Executive Officer, Kay Cantwell, accused the Government of imposing abrupt restrictions on an industry with 30,000 employees and critical funding for sports, horse racing and broadcasting. Others were of the view that the measure was not sufficiently regulated and called on Australia to fully ban illegal advertising on the Internet and broadcast platforms. Pastor Tim Costello said: “The children should grow up in a country where their well-being is placed above corporate profits”.
It is noteworthy that the state of California in the United States is also taking measures to restrict advertising for adolescents. Last July, California Attorney General Robert Bonta threatened to take legal action against lottery events, forecast markets and online Dream sports sites. At a government press conference in March, California parliamentarian Mia Bonta, together with Pilar Skiyavo, introduced a bill to prevent dream sports and prognosis from advertising minors or allowing them to use their services.
