Independent Members Meg Webb and Kristie Johnston have announced major gambling harm reform initiatives in Tasmania, including a joint motion to ban all gambling advertising and sponsorship at state-owned or funded venues, a Private Members Bill to return money stolen by gamblers to betting companies and strong backing from the Alliance for Gambling Reform.
Media release – Meg Webb MLC, 3 November 2025
Call for Ban on Gambling Ads at all State Venues
Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb has announced she will move in the Upper House for a ban on gambling advertising and sponsorship across all state-owned or state-funded venues, as a joint effort with independent Member for Clark, Kristie Johnston MHA.
“Evidence tells us the saturation of gambling advertising, such as during sport events, is normalising gambling, especially for children and young people,” Webb said. “The co-sponsored motion I will table in the Upper House this week seeks to provide all Tasmanians, but especially our children and young people, safe state-owned or funded facilities free from predatory gambling advertising.”
The proposed ban would include any new AFL-demanded stadium and any gambling logos on players’ uniforms, consistent with recommendations made by a 2023 Federal parliamentary inquiry into online gambling and its harmful impacts.
Recent Australian Gambling Research Centre data reveals around 3 million Australians are engaged in harmful gambling activities, with young people aged between 18 and 24 almost twice as likely to be in the high-risk category compared with other age groups. National polling shows three in four Australians support a total ban on gambling ads, with 81 per cent supporting a ban on online gambling ads and 79 per cent seeking a ban on players’ uniforms being used to promote gambling.
A 2022 AFL Fans Survey Report revealed 79 per cent wanted gambling ads banned from AFL grounds. Public health experts including the Tasmania branch of the Public Health Association have called for such a ban, which has adopted a policy position supporting a legislative ban on all forms of gambling marketing including sports sponsorship and advertising.
“Gambling companies know, just as tobacco companies did, that hooking people young creates a customer pipeline for life,” Webb said. “Gambling and gambling-related harm is clearly a serious public health issue and requires a strong public health response.”
“Just as governments tackled road mortality by mandating seat-belts and the escalating cost of smoking-related disease by prohibiting tobacco advertising, we need a similar public health-based approach to banning gambling advertising and sponsorship.”
If passed, the motion would require a complete ban on gambling ads and sponsorship at all state-owned or funded venues within 12 months, including an implementation progress report to be tabled in parliament within six months. Webb intends to debate her motion during the December sitting session.
Media release – Kristie Johnston MHA, 3 November 2025
Independent Clark Member Backs Advertising Ban Motion
When parliament resumes, Kristie Johnston and independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb will co-present parliament with an opportunity to support a ban on all gambling advertising and sponsorship at all state-owned or state-funded venues, including the proposed Macquarie Point Stadium.
The move delivers on calls by medical professionals, including the Public Health Association Australia (Tasmania Branch), Federal Parliamentary Committee recommendations, and calls by parents, former athletes and fans for greater regulation of gambling advertising in sport.
“I am proud to be joining forces with Webb to place this urgent matter squarely in front of both chambers,” Johnston said. “The Australian government has failed to act despite a federal parliamentary inquiry recommending a ban on all in-stadia advertising. Tasmania must now show leadership by implementing that ban where it can, such as at all state-owned or funded venues.”
If passed, the motion would require a complete ban on gambling ads and sponsorship at all state-owned or funded venues within 12 months, including an implementation progress report to be tabled in parliament within six months.
Media release – Kristie Johnston MHA, 3 November 2025
Johnston to Re-table Bill on Stolen Money Gambling Returns
Kristie Johnston will re-table her Private Members Bill this week to return money to people who have been robbed by gamblers to bet. There is no good reason gambling companies should benefit from the proceeds of crime.
Currently, gambling companies are keeping money even though there are numerous red flags indicating a punter is betting with stolen money. Instead of acting on those red flags, gambling companies ramp up inducements, hospitality and gifts to maximise their take from gambling addicts.
Johnston’s bill will allow the Supreme Court to make orders for the return of stolen money where they can see that the stolen money was used to gamble. The bill also puts a duty on gambling companies to report to police when they suspect someone might be using stolen money to gamble. A similar law is already in place in the UK and is working well.
South Australia’s gambling watchdog found 50 per cent of problem gamblers admit to committing crimes to gamble. Tasmanian Supreme Court data shows a pattern of people committing financial fraud and theft to fund a gambling addiction.
Recently the Rosebery RSL was robbed of money stolen to gamble, and the sad story of butcher “Robbo” Robinson serves as a grim reminder after his $420,000 retirement savings was stolen by his gambling-addicted bookkeeper. Johnston’s bill would have recovered money from the gambling company that pocketed this money.
A recent 4 Corners episode “Losing Streak” exposed the vast amounts of money victims lose to gambling companies. Johnston’s bill is part of an effort by independent MPs to create laws nationally and in each state to address this injustice.
Media release – Alliance for Gambling Reform, 3 November 2025
Alliance Backs Tas Bid to Ban Gambling Ads from State Venues
The Alliance for Gambling Reform has expressed strong support for the motion to ban gambling advertising and sponsorship across all state-owned or state-funded venues in Tasmania. The motion represents a joint initiative by independent Member for Nelson, Meg Webb and independent Member for Clark, Kristie Johnston MHA.
The motion to be tabled in the Upper House includes any gambling logos on players’ uniforms, consistent with recommendations made by a 2023 Federal parliamentary inquiry into online gambling and its harmful impacts.
“This motion is an absolute no-brainer for both houses of parliament in Tasmania to agree to,” said Alliance spokesman Mark Kempster. “Gambling harm is a public health issue in this country and gambling advertising is grooming the next generation of Australians to believe you need to bet on all sport to enjoy it, when we know that is so far from the truth.”
Tasmania has a real chance to lead Australia with significant gambling reform policies like this motion. “I urge the government to pass these motions and stand up to the gambling industry in this state and country. They failed to do so on poker machines; they cannot make the same mistakes twice,” Kempster said. “Gambling advertising is no different to cigarette advertising and needs to be treated the exact same way.”
Australian Gambling Research Centre data reveals around 3 million Australians are engaged in harmful gambling activities, with young people aged between 18 and 24 almost twice as likely to be in the high-risk category compared with other age groups.
The Alliance for Gambling Reform is a national advocacy organisation working to reduce gambling harm in Australia through partnerships with other organisations and local councils. The organisation works to change the laws and rules governing the gambling industry without seeking to ban gambling entirely.
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