Gambling Advertising Legislation Victoria

Canadian laws allow provincial governments to conduct and manage lotteries and games of chance that are operated on or through a computer, such as Internet casinos; however, in most circumstances, it is a crime in Canada for anyone else to run an online gaming operation. Advertising of online gaming services, involving the exchange of money. The laws apply to all static advertising, including on billboards and infrastructure like stations and bridges. Mass media pokies advertising is also banned in Victoria. However, there is rising community concern about the proliferation of sports betting advertising on broadcast and digital media, particularly its effect on young people. In Victoria, betting advertisements are banned on roads, public transport, and within 150 metres of schools. These laws apply to all static betting advertising, including outdoor billboards, on public transport, roads and associated infrastructure such as stations, bridges, noise walls and embankments.

Gambling advertising has increased rapidly over the past decade.

While smartphones, apps and social media have multiplied the marketing possibilities, a High Court decision in 2008 also played a major part in the dramatic increase in gambling advertising.

The effect of the ruling was to allow bookmakers to offer bets anywhere in Australia. The ruling also made it clear that states and territories were unlikely to be permitted to ban advertising from other parts of the country. The states and territories with bans, including Victoria, amended their legislation to remove them. The High Court case and subsequent ban removal resulted in a significant rise in the number of gambling companies operating across Australia, and a highly competitive market.

According to Nielsen Media Research, the gambling industry spent $273.2 million on advertising in Australia in 2018, up from $89.7 million in 2011. This excludes sponsorships and in-program content, such as during live sport broadcasts.

In September 2017, the Victorian Government announced a ban on betting advertising on roads and public transport, and within 150 metres of public schools. The laws apply to all static advertising, including on billboards and infrastructure like stations and bridges.

Mass media pokies advertising is also banned in Victoria. However, there is rising community concern about the proliferation of sports betting advertising on broadcast and digital media, particularly its effect on young people. Research findings substantiate this concern.

A Foundation-funded study – Extent of, and children and young people’s exposure to, gambling advertising in sport and non-sport TV – found that in 2016, there was an average of 374 gambling ads a day on Australian free-to-air TV. Two-thirds of these occurred between 6 am and 8:29 pm, when large numbers of young people were watching. There were around four times as many gambling ads an hour in sports programming than in non-sports programming.

374

gambling ads a day on Australian free-to-air TV in 2016.

Download image version of the infographic ' 374

gambling ads a day on Australian free-to-air TV in 2016.

'

x 4

Four times as many gambling ads an hour on free-to-air sports TV than on non-sports TV in 2016.

Download image version of the infographic ' x 4

Four times as many gambling ads an hour on free-to-air sports TV than on non-sports TV in 2016.

'

In Australia, ads for betting products are not permitted during TV programs classified G or lower from 6 to 8.30 am and 4 to 7 pm, or in programs directed at children between 5 am and 8.30 pm. Until 2018, these restrictions excluded sport broadcasts. On 30 March 2018, bans on gambling ads during broadcasts of live sport were introduced between 5 am and 8.30 pm. See the Australian Communications and Media Authority website for more: New gambling ad rules introduced.

On 28 September 2018, new complementary rules were also implemented to restrict gambling advertising during online streaming of live sport between 5 am and 8.30 pm.

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The 2016 Foundation-funded study Child and parent recall of gambling sponsorship in Australian sport collected data from children and parents at community sporting venues in New South Wales and Victoria. Three-quarters of 8- to 16-year-olds interviewed could name at least one gambling brand, and one-quarter could name four or more.

The children interviewed also perceived that some forms of marketing were more influential than others, in particular, advertisements featuring celebrities. Funny videos that are not easily recognisable as advertising can also have a strong impact on children.

Another 2016 study reported that 75 per cent of 8- to 16-year-olds thought gambling was a normal or common part of sport. For more on this study, see ‘It's just everywhere!’ Children and parents discuss the marketing of sports wagering in Australia.

1 in 4

* Based on interviews with 152 children aged 8–16 attending community sporting venues

Download image version of the infographic ' 1 in 4 '

31 %

of Victorian secondary school students have gambled.

Download image version of the infographic ' 31 %

of Victorian secondary school students have gambled.

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Participants in the 2016 studies were able to describe incentives offered by bookmakers, such as ‘bonus bet’ offers and ‘cash back’ deals, which likely contributed to their belief that you could not lose from gambling. This perception is not limited to young people. Incentives or inducements are a form of marketing used to attract new customers or to trigger further gambling. There is also evidence they can lead to people underestimating the risks they are taking.

A 2018 study funded by the Foundation investigated the effects of wagering marketing on vulnerable adults and found that many vulnerable bettors were heavily exposed to wagering marketing, which led them to place bigger and more frequent bets.

A follow-up study looking at direct texts and emails sent by wagering operators found this direct messaging to be extremely frequent and likely to contribute to risky gambling.

In 2019, the Foundation released research exploring gambling attitudes, behaviour and exposure among Victorian secondary school students, which found 31 per cent had gambled at some point in their lives, and six per cent had gambled in the previous 30 days. Just under three-quarters of all students had been aware of gambling advertisements or promotions on TV in the past month. This exposure was linked to increased likelihood of gambling.

Our Love the Game Sporting Club Program works with local and elite sporting clubs to reduce young people's exposure to sports betting advertising and counter the social norm of gambling in sport.

See some of our sporting hero partners talk about loving the game, not the odds:

Our School Education Program supports secondary school communities to help young people develop informed attitudes to gambling.

Find out more about our work to address the normalisation of gambling at Love the game, not the odds.

The department and its associated agencies advise on gambling policy and regulate gambling licensing.

Agencies:

• commission research and provide education about gambling harm in Victoria
• provide support to people experiencing harm due to gambling.

Legislation and regulation

Gambling Advertising Legislation Victoria Warren

The gambling policy unit in the department's Office of Liquor and Gaming is the primary government point of reference for industry, community and government on gambling matters. The unit is responsible for the provision of strategic policy advice and support to the Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation.

Licensing and compliance

The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) (External link) – an independent statutory authority – is responsible for regulating all forms of legalised gambling in Victoria. The commission’s functions include informing and educating industry and the public about regulatory practices and requirements.

Education, research and preventing gambling harm

Gambling Advertising Legislation Victoria Secret

The Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation (VRGF) (External link) is the statutory authority that addresses the challenge of gambling harm in the Victorian community.

The foundation works with partners and communities across Victoria to:

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• inform people about the risks of gambling
• assist people affected by gambling harm
• provide support to people affected by someone else’s gambling.