The Turnbull Government’s stronger gambling advertising restrictions will commence on 30 March 2018, following the registration of revised broadcast industry codes of practice by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).
The changes will mean gambling advertising is further restricted during live sporting events and are part of the Government’s comprehensive Broadcast and Content Reform Package announced in May last year. From 30 March, parents and carers can have confidence that children will not be exposed to gambling promotions during live sporting events broadcast before 8:30pm.
Free TV Australia (Free TV), Commercial Radio Australia (CRA), and the Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association (ASTRA) have each worked in partnership with the ACMA to ensure that the broadcast sector codes have been appropriately amended.
Minister for Communications, Mitch Fifield, welcomed the announcement of this important milestone and said he has been pleased to see such a close collaboration between industry and the ACMA which will make a real difference to the community.
“The Turnbull Government has listened to the community’s concerns about the amount of gambling promotions shown during live sporting events and we have acted,” Mitch Fifield said.
The new restrictions will prohibit gambling promotions during live sporting events, from five minutes before the scheduled start of play until five minutes after the conclusion of the sporting event, where the event is broadcast between the hours of 5.00 am and 8.30 pm.
Legislation currently before Parliament establishes a regulatory framework that will allow the ACMA to impose these new gambling restriction on online content service providers, ensuring that no matter what platform children use to access live sporting events, they will not be exposed to gambling promotions during live sport in children’s viewing hours.
More detail about the Broadcast and Content Reform Package is available at: www.communications.gov.au/bcrp
Authorised by Senator the Hon Mitch Fifield, Liberal Party of Australia, Parliament House, Canberra.