Salvos call for gambling advertising reform in the ACT
BY ANTHONY CASTLE
Every day across its frontline services, The Salvation Army witnesses the harm caused by gambling – to individuals, families and communities.
The ACT Government recently asked communities around the nation’s capital to have their say on proposed restrictions on gambling advertising within the territory. The Salvation Army’s Policy and Advocacy team made a submission to the inquiry, calling for much-needed reform.
“Our team provided a submission to the ACT Government,” says Jaimie Jones, Policy and Advocacy Advisor. “There’s a discussion happening at a national level right now, so when this consultation with the ACT Government came up, we wanted to contribute. We took the position that ideally a ban on gambling advertising should be happening at a national coordinated level, but the ACT should implement banning it as much as is in their power.”
In the ACT, The Salvation Army interacts with people impacted by gambling harm through its Moneycare financial counselling service, but also provides support through Doorways emergency relief and Salvo corps.
People in Australia lose approximately $25 billion on legal gambling each year, the largest per capita losses in the world. Gambling advertising is harmful, especially for children, young people and people experiencing gambling harm and addiction.
“The research shows that children and young people are particularly susceptible to gambling advertising influencing their attitudes,” Jaimie says. “It teaches them that gambling is normal when they may not be able to understand the harms.
The Salvation Army’s submission states that there is no level of gambling advertising to which it is safe for children and young people to be exposed. Harm from gambling, or someone else’s gambling, goes beyond financial losses and impacts people’s relationships, health, psychological wellbeing, work and study. Restricting gambling advertising at certain times of the day is insufficient to adequately reduce these risks to children and young people.
“The most effective way to address the harms caused by gambling advertising is to implement a national, comprehensive ban on gambling advertising,” Jaimie says. “The evidence suggests piecemeal responses don’t have a significant impact as well. The advertising moves elsewhere and adapts.”
In 2013, South Australia introduced restrictions on broadcasting gambling advertising on television and radio, and the ACT Government is considering similar approaches.
The Salvation Army has made two recommendations: that the ACT Government work with the Commonwealth Government to implement a national, comprehensive ban on gambling advertising and take immediate steps towards implementing a ban on all gambling advertising within the ACT.
“The focus at the moment should still be at a national level,” Jaimie says. “This is what was recommended in The Murphy Report, the inquiry last year into online gambling harm, and the Commonwealth Government is yet to announce their position. We need to be pushing very much for a national ban on gambling advertising as the most effective way forward.”
