The Australian Federal Government has introduced legislation into the Commonwealth Parliament that would ban wagering advertising on sporting uniforms and venues, but existing sponsorship arrangements could remain visible on jerseys until 31 December 2031 under a grandfathering provision.
The Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026, introduced on 2 July 2026, proposes a new Part 7C within the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. It would prohibit wagering advertising content on uniforms worn by participants or officials in connection with a sporting event, as well as on premises used for sporting events or related activities.
The proposed reforms would also introduce restrictions across broadcasting, datacasting and online platforms. These include live-event advertising blackouts, television frequency caps and a ban on notable persons, including current and former athletes, celebrities and social media influencers, promoting wagering services.
Under proposed Schedule 5, arrangements entered into before the Bill’s introduction date are exempt from the uniform and venue prohibition until 31 December 2031, provided those arrangements are not varied to extend their duration or increase the prominence of wagering advertising. Qualifying existing arrangements could therefore remain exempt until that date.
The Bill also introduces a substantially heavier penalty framework, with maximum civil penalties of AUD$364,000 for individuals and AUD$1,820,000 for bodies corporate for breaches of the advertising restrictions, and a separate anti-avoidance provision carrying penalties up to AUD$2,730,000.
Legislative pathway still incomplete
The reforms follow the 2023 House of Representatives Standing Committee report You win some, you lose more, which recommended a comprehensive ban on online gambling advertising. If enacted in its current form, the core prohibitions would commence on 1 January 2027, with implementation phased over three years and the first 12 months prioritising reduced exposure in high-risk settings for children and young people.
The Bill has been referred to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry, with a report due by 17 August 2026. It has not yet passed Parliament and remains subject to further scrutiny and amendment before any provisions take legal effect.
The proposed uniform and venue ban would mark a departure from Australia’s current co-regulatory framework, which relies on industry broadcasting codes and the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 rather than direct statutory prohibition. The Bill would establish a new statutory regime in the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, backed by higher civil penalties.
Source: Hall & Wilcox
Petra Vanhoof has spent the better part of a decade following the shifting tides of gambling regulation across Europe and beyond. She came up through the compliance side of the industry before pivoting to writing, which gives her a grounded, no-nonsense perspective on the rules, loopholes, and political maneuvering that shape how operators actually do business. She is particularly drawn to the gap between what regulators say and what the market ends up doing in response.