Australian Medical Association Advocates for Full Ban on Online Gambling Ads

AMA Calls for Comprehensive Advertising Ban

The AMA has publicly voiced its support for a complete ban on online gambling ads, emphasizing the need for swift action.

This request follows the recent recommendations of the “You win some, you lose more” parliamentary inquiry, which also advocated for the prohibition of gambling advertising to curb its detrimental effects.

According to the AMA, a blanket ban would be the most effective way to protect at-risk individuals from the dangers of gambling addiction.

Concerns Over Government’s Partial Ban Considerations

Despite the AMA’s strong stance, recent government discussions have leaned towards a more limited approach, potentially implementing a partial ban or capping gambling advertisements instead of a full prohibition.

This has drawn criticism from advocates who believe that such measures would fall short of addressing the core issues associated with gambling ads.

Professor Steve Robson’s Criticism of Softer Measures

Professor Steve Robson, President of the AMA, has been a vocal proponent of a complete ban, expressing frustration with the government’s indecisive response.

Robson believes that anything less than a full prohibition will allow gambling companies to find loopholes, similar to what has been seen in the vaping industry.

“Anything less than a comprehensive ban on online gambling advertising will do nothing to protect Australians falling into the grips of gambling addiction,” Robson said, stressing the urgency of implementing stricter measures.

He further warned that leaving room for any form of advertising would give gambling operators the chance to manipulate the system:

“If you give these betting companies any kind of wriggle room with advertisements, they will exploit it. We saw this with the vaping industry, and similar scenes are now playing out with gambling,” he noted.

Impact on Young Australians and Public Health

Robson has also pointed out the harmful effects of gambling ads on younger audiences, particularly during sports broadcasts.

In a previous interview with ABC Radio, he highlighted the risks posed to impressionable young Australians, who could begin associating gambling with healthy sporting activities.

“The advertising during sporting events is so insidious because you have that capacity to link online gambling to something that ought to be healthy,” Robson commented, underlining the damaging potential of such ads.

Gambling Losses in Australia

The AMA additionally cited concerning statistics about gambling in Australia. The association reported that Australians lose an estimated AUD 25 billion annually on gambling, making the country the world leader in gambling losses per capita.

This alarming figure underscores the need for stringent regulations to mitigate the risks associated with widespread gambling.