Gambling advertising will no longer be permitted on the transport network of the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW).
This morning, NSW Premier Chris Minns signed a ‘prohibition agreement’ to ban gambling advertising from being displayed on all state-owned transport assets. NSW will prohibit gambling advertising across its transport network, including trains, metro services, trams, and taxis. Additionally, the ban will cover all stations and terminals used by the public.
The ban will be implemented over a 12-month period, during which NSW will work with contract holders to implement the required changes.
As detailed: “NSW operates one of the largest portfolios of advertising assets across Australia. This includes 798 advertising boards at Sydney train stations, 49 road-facing digital billboards, adverts on up to 3,711 urban buses, 76 trams, and across the Tangara train fleet.”
Since 2023, NSW Premier Chris Minns has implemented a comprehensive action plan to mitigate gambling harm in Australia’s most populous state.
In 2023, the government reduced the statewide gaming machine entitlement cap, banned political donations from clubs with electronic gaming machines, and decreased the cash input limit on new gaming machines from $5,000 to $500.
In 2024, further measures included banning signage or advertising related to gaming machines on or visible from ATMs or EFTPOS terminals with cash withdrawal facilities, as well as introducing Responsible Gambling Officers for venues with more than 20 machine entitlements.
From 2025 onwards, ATMs or EFTPOS terminals allowing cash withdrawals must be placed at least five meters from the entry to a gaming room and must not be visible from any machine or entry point.
An Independent Panel was established to conduct a trial of cashless gaming in pubs and clubs throughout 2024. Additionally, the government committed $100 million to harm minimisation, investing in research, treatment, services, and reform.
Jo Haylen, NSW’s Minister for Transport, welcomed the decision: “Gambling advertising has been a common sight on our public transport for a couple of years now, and I’m pleased our Government is taking action to remove it. Parents are rightly worried about the impact it has on their kids, so it’s not something we think needs to be on our transport network.”
Labor must settle Gambling-ad conflicts
In Canberra, Parliament awaits the Labor government to reinitiate its review of long-sought federal restrictions on gambling advertising, a divisive issue that remained unresolved in 2024.
Criticism was directed at Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for rejecting recommendations made by the Murphy Report, which suggested a phased three-year approach to banning gambling advertising on Australian media networks.
Despite being a vocal critic of the gambling industry, PM Albanese intervened and proposed that Australian networks adopt a whistle-to-whistle ban on gambling advertising during sports broadcasts, along with further watershed advertising restrictions.
Ministers criticised Albanese for watering down the recommendations of the late Labor Minister Peta Murphy, describing it as a “slap in the face to vulnerable Australians”.
Call for a blanket ban on gambling advertising are led by Reverend Tim Costello, who leads the Alliance for Gambling Reform, stated: “Every day this government delays meaningful reform, more families are hurt. The saturation of gambling ads is driving addiction and destroying lives.”