Alliance for Gambling Reform

26/08/2026

𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝗬𝗼𝘂, 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘀

The Alliance announces the resignation of CEO Martin Thomas, whose leadership, commitment and tireless advocacy have made an enormous contribution to our work tackling gambling harm.

Martin will be dearly missed by everyone at The Alliance.

Subject to Martin’s approval, we propose the following words from him:

“Leading The Alliance has been an enormous privilege. I want to sincerely thank our supporters and donors, partners, councils, Voices and staff for their extraordinary commitment to reducing gambling harm. The progress we have made together gives me great hope for the future, and I know The Alliance will continue to be a powerful voice for change.”

We are deeply grateful to Martin for everything he has given to The Alliance and wish him every success for the future.

Please help us continue this vital work by donating to The Alliance today.

26/08/2026

**𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱’𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗣𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻**

Queenslanders lost almost $4.1 billion to poker machines last financial year, while the number of machines increased to about 40,720.

The Alliance CEO Martin Thomas said: “The failure of the Queensland Government to properly regulate poker machines, even allowing more machines in some cases, is causing gambling harm at record levels.”

The Alliance is calling for shorter operating hours and mandatory carded play with precommitment, so people set a loss limit before gambling.

Governments must put public safety ahead of poker machine profits. https://www.newsport.com.au/2026/july/record-losses-as-state-poker-machine-numbers-on-the-rise

Donate to The Alliance and help drive urgent gambling reform. https://www.agr.org.au/

26/08/2026

25/08/2026

𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗴𝗼 𝗳𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿

The tentative deal on gambling advertising reforms does not match the scale of the harm.

The Alliance, as well as several crossbenchers, are pushing for stronger action in line with the Murphy report, including banning inducements, phasing out gambling advertising and establishing a national regulator.

As The Alliance Chief Advocate Tim Costello said: “We got there with to***co. We will get there but it will be a much longer flight.”

Australians deserve reforms that put public health ahead of gambling industry interests.

Listen on ABC Radio: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/am/am/106974316 https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/am/am/106974316

Read the Senate Report: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Environment_and_Communications/GamblingReform48P/Report https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Environment_and_Communications/GamblingReform48P/Report

25/08/2026

𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘃𝘂𝗹𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀

Social media is being flooded with videos that glamorise poker machines and illegal online gambling, often without gambling harm warnings. Regulators fear this content blurs entertainment and marketing, normalises gambling and presents it as “a source of easy money”.

University of Melbourne researcher Angela Rintoul warned: “It appears to be a form of marketing that has been under the radar and overlooked by regulators and platforms.”

Only one influencer has reportedly been disciplined, despite regulators investigating multiple cases.

The Alliance is calling for stronger protections from gambling promotion online. https://www.theage.com.au/business/companies/gambling-influencers-are-flooding-the-internet-with-videos-only-one-has-been-fined-20260804-p60l6i.html

Help us fight gambling harm. Donate to The Alliance today. https://www.agr.org.au/donate-2026-m-sm

24/08/2026

Tim Costello: Missed opportunity

The parliament has missed a golden opportunity to lock in stronger laws to regulate the gambling industry and address the damage it causes our communities.

Video: SBS News

24/08/2026

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗸: 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺

In a new Appendix W podcast episode, The Alliance CEO Martin Thomas explores how gambling has become a major public health issue, particularly for young Australians.

The discussion examines evidence of gambling harm, changes in the gambling landscape, recent regulatory reforms and the stronger policies needed to protect communities. Martin also considers what Australia’s gambling environment could look like in 10 years.

Listen to the episode and explore The Alliance’s research: https://www.wallis.social/news/appendix-w-alliance-for-gambling-reform

Have gambling ads affected your family? Have your say: https://www.agr.org.au/

23/08/2026

𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁

Federal parliament is passing new gambling reforms, including tighter advertising restrictions, stronger opt-out rules and a three-year review. But critics say the package still fails to deliver the comprehensive protections Australians need.

Independent MP Andrew Wilkie warned: “Minor tweaks and piecemeal amendments to this bad bill won’t address the wave of gambling harm washing over this country. It won’t protect children. It won’t break the nexus between gambling and sport. It won’t stop the suicides.”

Australia needs reforms that put people, families and children ahead of gambling industry interests. https://theconversation.com/bipartisan-deal-on-gambling-includes-a-review-after-three-years-289896

Support The Alliance’s work for stronger gambling reform. Please donate today. https://www.agr.org.au/donate-2026-m-sm

23/08/2026

𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 “𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝘆” 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 - 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗸𝗶𝗱𝘀?

A 16-year-old reportedly gambled more than $20,000 across Sydney’s Crown and Star casinos over five months using fake ID.

He visited Crown 19 times, reached silver membership status and was even served complimentary alcohol before finally being caught.

Crown has been fined $1.75 million and The Star $500,000.

If casinos can’t identify a teenager after 19 visits, while rewarding him with status and alcohol, how can gambling companies claim they’ll protect young people across gambling apps used by millions?

Our kids deserve real protection from gambling harm - not slogans. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-62wuw_eJ-4

Support The Alliance’s campaign for reform - donate today. https://www.agr.org.au/donate-2026-m-sm

22/08/2026

𝗔 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺

The Alliance Chief Advocate Tim Costello has criticised the government’s proposed reforms for failing to protect children and separate gambling from sport.

“This is a massive missed opportunity. It fails to protect kids, it fails to delink gambling and sport. They were the two things the Prime Minister said his bill would do. And most importantly, it does not even mention a national regulator when we have the greatest losses and harm per capita than anywhere in the world.”

Australia needs stronger action to prevent gambling harm. https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/the-radio-national-hour/will-the-new-gambling-laws-actually-work-/107052108

Support The Alliance’s campaign for meaningful reform. Donate today. https://www.agr.org.au/donate-2026-m-sm