Anthony Albanese says ‘gambling the problem, not ads’ as he is accused of backtracking on gambling reform

Gambling is the problem, not the advertisements, the prime minister says.

Pressure is mounting on the federal government to carry on the legacy of Labor’s late anti-gambling advocate Peta Murphy and implement a total ban on gambling ads.

But Anthony Albanese continues to rebuff those calls, insisting a blanket prohibition is not the “bold” move others claim it is.

“The problem isn’t advertising, the problem is gambling,” he told ABC radio on Thursday.

“The easy option is just to (ban ads) and not worry about the consequences for sporting codes, junior sport, the media.”

Australians lose about $25 billion gambling every year, making them the biggest losers in the world on a per capita basis.

However, Mr Albanese noted lotteries and scratchies were the most common gambling products, with 64 per cent of Australian adults participating in 2022.

That compares to the 38 per cent who bet on horse races and the 33 per cent who placed wagers on sports, according to Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data.

“I haven’t seen a campaign about advertising lotteries - which is a far bigger problem than sports gambling,” Mr Albanese said.

Previously, the Labor government was considering a partial ban on gambling ads, although experts warned that it might not be effective enough to reduce harm.

In August, Mr Albanese said the status quo on gambling ads was “completely unacceptable” and vowed further reforms.

Now, Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has accused the prime minister of walking back his position even further with his latest comments on gambling advertising.

“He’s dead wrong and it is extremely disappointing to see him backtracking,” she told reporters in Canberra on Thursday.

“The single most important thing we should do is stop the gambling industry from being able to advertise, just like we’ve done with tobacco, and just like we do on other issues.

“If the prime minister cares about community sport, he should fund community sport - hiding behind limp excuses created and parroted by the gambling lobby is not leadership.”

The Greens plan to introduce Senate legislation to ban gambling advertising across the board.

“We can debate this bill, we can get the laws changed and we can make it happen,” Senator Hanson-Young said.

“The prime minister doesn’t have the guts to act.”