33 Australian lawmakers back tougher gambling rules in Northern Territory as reform bill nears parliament

More than 30 Australian politicians, community groups and gambling reform advocates are pressing the Northern Territory government to tighten protections against gambling harm. For operators licensed in the territory, the direction of travel is clear: fewer inducements, tighter youth protections and higher penalties if the rules are breached.

1. An open letter signed by 33 MPs and organizations backs independent Northern Territory Member of the Legislative Assembly Justine Davis and her proposed Gambling Reform Bill, which is expected to be introduced in parliament next week.
2. The bill would ban gambling inducements such as bonus bets, strengthen protections for young people, increase penalties for operators that breach gambling rules, and make preventing gambling harm a central objective of the territory’s gambling laws.
3. Among the supporters are federal MPs Andrew Wilkie, Monique Ryan, David Pocock, Zali Steggall and Helen Haines. Organizations backing the call include the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance NT, Suicide Prevention Australia and the Australian Council of Social Service.
4. The push follows federal reforms passed in August, which introduced restrictions on gambling inducements, created an opt-out register for gambling advertising and extended advertising blackout periods during live sporting broadcasts. Reform advocates say those measures did not go far enough.
5. They point to the Murphy review, a parliamentary inquiry into online gambling, which called for a comprehensive ban on online gambling advertising, a complete ban on inducements and the creation of a national gambling regulator. Davis’s bill would give the Northern Territory a chance to move faster at the local level, especially since the territory licenses a large number of Australia’s online gambling operators.

Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Minister Marie-Clare Boothby said the government would consider proposals on their merits, adding: “As a government, we’ll consider all sensible proposals on their merits, but let me be clear: while we encourage all people to gamble responsibly, you can’t legislate personal responsibility.” The industry’s counterargument is familiar: tougher rules can push some customers toward illegal offshore operators, which do not face the same regulatory requirements.