Media Release: Upper House to Vote to Make State Venues Gambling Ad Free Zones

Image courtesy: Victorian State Government: https://lovethegame.vic.gov.au/

Legislative Council to Vote to Make State Venues Gambling Ad Free Zones

Monday, 1 December 2025

Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb said today the Tasmanian Upper House will this week debate her call to ban all gambling advertising and sponsorship in all State-owned or State-funded venues.

“The evidence is in. Successive reports and surveys confirm the majority of people are fed up with the pervasive presence of gambling advertising interfering with their enjoyment of sport and other activities,” Ms Webb said.

“The 2023 Federal Peta Murphy parliamentary report recommended a ban on all gambling advertising online, in stadiums and on players uniforms.

“We can’t wait for the Albanese government to act. Instead, Tasmania could and should move to make its stadiums and venues gambling advertising free zones.

“We now have generations of children who have not experienced going to support their team without being exposed to venue betting advertising and who identify team colours with gambling logos displayed on their favourite players’ uniforms.

“It’s crazy that families seeking to experience the thrill of live sports and events, are still exposed to harmful gambling advertising just as they would if they remained at home watching online.”

Ms Webb said a recent Australian Gambling Research Centre report found two-thirds of surveyed Australians believe sports and race betting (wagering) advertising is “too common”.

“The majority of Australians believe betting advertising ‘makes betting seem like a normal part of sport’, with over 60% saying it makes sport less ‘family-friendly’, and over half worried that it ‘normalises gambling among children’.

“Gambling harm is a recognised public health issue which requires a public health response, just as former governments took to tackle tobacco addiction.

“We gave tobacco advertising the boot from our grounds, its time to give gambling advertising and sponsorship the boot from our live sport venues as well,” Ms Webb said.

Ms Webb’s motion will be debated in the Legislative Council on Tuesday, December 2.

View below a Background Brief-Making State-Owned Venues Gambling Advertising & Sponsorship Free Zones, December 2025,released by the Office of Meg Webb MLC or here