Australia Creates National Register to Block Gambling Ads
Australia has approved a national register that will allow people to opt out of online gambling advertising across multiple digital services.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority will design, operate and enforce the Wagering Advertising Opt-out Register. The system is expected to be developed within 12 months, although its registration and data protection processes have not yet been finalised.
Communications Minister Anika Wells promised:
If you do not want to see gambling ads online, you will not have to.
Before the central register becomes available, new platform-level rules will start on January 1, 2027. Online services will only be able to show gambling ads to users who are logged in, verified as over 18 and given a clear option to block such advertising.
Once the national register is active, showing gambling ads to a registered person will be an offence. The maximum penalties will be A$364,000 for individuals and A$1.82m for companies.
The wider reform package also restricts gambling advertising during live sport, limits the number of TV ads and bans wagering promotions involving athletes, celebrities and influencers.
ACMA must still decide how platforms will identify registered users without creating privacy or security risks. The regulator will publish further guidance before the new requirements begin.
