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Anthony Albanese has said there’s no harm in Aussies taking the occasional gamble as his administration prepares to confront problem gamblers with tougher TV slogans, while Carrie Bickmore calls for even tougher measures.
The prime minister said the initiative was about “striking the right balance” after Bickmore asked if the slogan campaign was doing enough to tackle the problem.
“It’s not a problem if people make a point every now and then at the Melbourne Cup or whatever. The problem is a group of people who become problem gamblers and that can be devastating for them,” Mr Albanese said.
“So it’s just really focused on that, instead of saying ‘All the gambling’ that people could participate in, sometimes it can be harmless, but the fact is it can do massive damage at the same time.”
Anthony Albanese said the initiative was ‘striking the right balance’ after Carrie Bickmore asked if the slogan campaign was doing enough to address the problem
Bickmore pointed out that the older generation of problem gamblers were unfamiliar with the amount of pro-gambling advertising seen on Australian screens today.
What’s in store for this next generation if this is what they’re seeing now? Does it go far enough what you’re trying to do?’ she asked.
“I think we strike the right balance – we’re not trying to impose a full nanny state, but trying to warn people that it could be a problem and make them think,” the prime minister replied.
Waleed Aly asked if the government had “any consideration” for limiting the amount of gambling advertising children take in while watching sports.
‘We tried to bring’ states and territories with us, because a lot of it is regulated by them, but we are also working with the industry to find a solution, so we’re trying to get everyone in one direction instead of making it a conflict issue,” the prime minister replied.
Earlier on Wednesday, it was announced that the well-known ‘gamble responsibly’ – the phrase stuck at the end of Australian gambling ads – will be replaced by seven tougher slogans in a new effort to deter problem gamblers.
Carrie Bickmore pointed out that Australia’s older generation of problem gamblers were unfamiliar with the amount of pro-gambling advertising seen on screens today
The slogans warn Australians about the dangers of betting and include lines such as: ‘You are likely to lose.’
The new messages will be used on TV, in print, on radio and online to get people thinking about the possible consequences of their actions.
Australians have higher gambling losses than any other country per capita at $1,276 per year.
According to government statistics, the number of problem gambling among online gamblers in Australia is three times higher than among those who play poker machines.
It was announced on Wednesday that the ‘responsible gambling’ slogan – the phrase stuck at the end of Australian gambling ads – will be replaced by seven tougher slogans (pictured, customers watch the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday)
The powerfully worded new tags also include “Imagine what you could buy instead,” “Think. Is this a bet you really want to place?’ and ‘What are you willing to lose today? Set a deposit limit.’
The move will affect companies such as Bet 365, Sportsbet and Ladbrokes, along with newcomer Betr, who came into conflict on Tuesday when it refused to pay out on a number of Melbourne Cup winning bets.
Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said online gambling is “rapidly becoming an increasing source of gambling and an increasing source of loss for people”.
The Albanian Labor government is committed to damage minimization and practical solutions when it comes to tackling online betting issues.
Australians have higher gambling losses than any other country based on $1,276 per year (stock image)
“We consulted a lot and, most importantly, we used evidence to inform these slogans,” she said.
Ms Rishworth’s department sought the opinion of 30 regular online gamblers to choose the most effective phrases to use.
The slogans were subsequently approved by the federal, state and territory governments under the National Consumer Protection Framework.
The companies that broadcast gambling messages will have to adopt the slogans in March. They were asked to ensure that the words for TV and radio advertisements should be “read slowly, calmly and at an even pace.”