On this page:
- Online wagering advertising restrictions
- Access guidance
- What cannot be advertised
- Penalties
- Restrictions during sporting events
- Restrictions during children's viewing hours
Also see the Liquor & Gaming NSW information pages on:
Online wagering advertising restrictions
Gambling advertising is a key concern of the community.
The NSW Government has strengthened restrictions on gambling advertising.
These restrictions are:
- focused on, but not limited to, inducements to gamble
- aimed at gambling harm minimisation.
NSW has implemented Consistent Gambling Messaging (CGM), which is part of the National Consumer Protection Framework (NCPF) for online wagering
To help wagering service providers comply, Liquor & Gaming NSW (L&GNSW) has prepared a letter to industry.
Access the letter, along with NSW and Commonwealth guidance below.
Consistent gambling messaging guidance
- Letter to Industry - CGM Measure of the NCPF (PDF 343.98KB)
- Commonwealth CGM Measure - Implementation plan
- Commonwealth CGM Measure - Definitions Factsheet
- Commonwealth CGM Measure - FAQs
- Betting and Racing Regulation 2022
The material will inform you about:
- requirements for gambling advertisements that may be accessible to a person in NSW
- what is required to comply with the CGM measure
- how the CGM measure should be implemented to meet the policy intent.
Guidelines for betting service providers
Liquor & Gaming NSW has also prepared specific guidelines to assist betting service providers to comply with advertising requirements.
The following are industry alerts that have been released to re-affirm L&GNSW’s position on certain advertising practices and call out misconduct
- L&GNSW Regulatory position in respect to tipping competitions and special odds (PDF 209.48KB)
- Letter to Industry - Systemic Issues in compliance with NSW restrictions (PDF 67.82KB)
Also see information below on gambling advertising, and access Gambling advertising rules - ACMA
Inducements must not be advertised
It is an offence to publish or communicate:
- any inducement to participate, or to participate frequently, in any gambling activity.
This includes an inducement to open a betting account.
Note: It is still a breach of the law if gambling advertising has a disclaimer that the inducement is not available to NSW residents.
Penalties
Penalties for prohibited gambling advertising, including by betting service providers, broadcasters, commentators or others:
- Maximum penalty of $110,000applies to any corporation.
- Maximum penalty of $11,000 applies to an individual.
- Liquor & Gaming NSW can also issue penalty notices in response to a breach.
- Directors and other corporate officers of betting service providers may also be held liable.
Betting service providers are expected to ensure that their advertisements comply with the law.
A broadcaster may also be committing an offence if they continue to publish an offending advertisement after Liquor & Gaming NSW informs them that a publication may be in breach of the law.
Restrictions during sporting events
It is an offence to publish gambling advertising relating to a particular sporting event or fixture that is in progress in NSW.
This includes:
- live odds and
- in-play betting services.
These restrictions help reduce the potential harmful impact of these advertisements on the community. Advertising live odds and in-play betting services may encourage:
- more continuous betting or
- betting on impulse.
Restrictions during children's viewing hours
- The Commonwealth Government has restrictions on gambling advertising during children’s viewing hours.
- Gambling advertising or promotion of odds is no longer permitted during live sports broadcasts between 5.00am and 8.30pm.
- This includes online streaming of sporting events.
- These rules are intended to limit children’s exposure to gambling advertisements.
- More details about the rules and exemptions are available on the ACMA website.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is the Commonwealth regulator responsible for overseeing commercial advertising. This includes advertising for betting service providers.
Access the full ACMA guidelines: Gambling advertising rules - ACMA