Grattan Institute calls for loss limit in Australia

Independent think tank The Grattan Institute has published a report concluding that, among other things, a loss limit should be introduced in Australia. There is currently a debate in Australia on what ways gamblers should be protected, including a possible ban on gambling advertisements.

The Australian Grattan Institute, a public policy think tank, has released a report on ways Australia can reduce gambling harm. The report, titled ‘A better bet: How Australia should prevent gambling harm’, contains several recommendations.

Figures in the report show that Australia leads the world in terms of average annual losses per adult from gambling, at AU$1,635. This is more than countries like the United States (AU$809) and New Zealand (AU$584), the report said. Most losses in Australia are due to gaming machines, known as pokies, and sports betting.

The report’s recommendations include phasing out all gambling advertisements in Australia, gradually reducing the number of gaming machines per state, and introducing a daily, monthly and an annual gambling loss limit.

Ban on gambling advertisements discussed in politics

A ban on gambling advertisements is currently a hot topic within politics in Australia. If it were up to the Labor political party, there would be a gambling advertising ban both online and on TV, although a relaxed advertising ban is expected. To compensate for any lost revenue in case gambling advertisements on TV are banned, the country wants to levy a gambling levy of 2% of the GGR of online gambling sites.

The report also cites some European countries as examples of how limits can be implemented and what lessons can be learned. The following countries are cited as examples:

• Belgium: deposit limit of $200 per week.
• Germany: umbrella deposit limit of $1,000 per month.
• Norway: deposit limit of $500 per month for casino games.
• Sweden: had a deposit limit of SEK 4,000 per month.

Setting playing limits

Some legal online casinos also allow you to set a loss limit on your account, although this option is not mandatory. This is one of the limits belonging to play limits. Other limits included are a deposit limit, balance limit, and time limit.

From 1 October 2024, there will be some mandatory changes regarding play limits in Australia. For instance, there will be a net deposit threshold, and a legal provider must set a mandatory contact time when a new gambler sets a monthly deposit limit.