Australia has a gambling addiction.
It is not only leading to $25 billion in annual losses – it is escalating devastating social harm including financial loss, health and mental health issues, partner violence, family break-up and suicide.
There is strong evidence that gambling companies are now grooming our kids by targeting children as young as 14 through social media.
Our children are also being targeted by the tsunami of gambling ads that assault our screens, especially around coverage of our major sporting codes. It is ensnaring a whole new generation of gamblers.
Gambling advertising in Australia is out of control with one million gambling ads being aired on free-to-air television and radio in just one year.
We the undersigned urge the Government and the Opposition to publicly commit to the swift adoption and implementation of all 31 recommendations of the Murphy Report parliamentary inquiry into online gambling.
This includes a 3-year, phased-in ban on all gambling advertising and the banning of inducements and promotions especially around sports betting which are unethically used to ensnare people who want to stop gambling.
Please act now.