PointsBet Worries Australian Gambling Rules May Empower Offshore Operators

Australia continues to combat illegal operations targeting the country, with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) working painstakingly to limit the access of such companies. Yet, the process has proven exhausting, and rogue operators are able to restart in a matter of hours. Gambling Ads Changes in Australia May Empower Offshore Operator Now, new and tighter rules on gambling advertisement are likely to further constrict the regulated market’s ability to compete while empowering offshore operators which cannot be forced to comply with the new measures, argues an Australian betting and gaming major, PointsBet. During the company’s Annual General Meeting held earlier this week, PointsBet Group CEO Andrew Catterall expressed concerns that operators face a more difficult licensing regime than offshore operators that target Australians on a whim and carry none of the consequences of their actions. The changes to advertising would limit the ads that Australians see during live sports coverage, as well as prohibit athletes, celebrities and influencers from appearing in wagering advertising. Wagering ads during live sporting events will also be banned from 15 minutes before to 5 minutes after the event, between the hours of 5 am and 8:30 pm, with TV advertising outside of that window capped at three ads per hour, under the now-passed Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026. Those Regulating the Sector Need Pay Attenton “What’s clear at this point is that the operating model for licensed Australian wagering operators post-reform will get even more complicated and more expensive,” Catterall said. He also noted that the reformers would not want to see the gambling re-regulated in a way that ends up empowering the illegal offshore operators that currently don’t follow any of the existing rules. “As the Government turns its attention to the implementation detail, we hope to see them focus on ensuring the relevant agencies are fully equipped to exercise new powers to block out the illegal offshore market,” the executive further noted. While executives have worried over the new rules, anti-gambling advocates have pointed out that not enough has been done to restrict gambling ads in the first place. One specific case that raffles RG experts’ feathers is the fact that front-of-shirt gambling sponsorships will be allowed through 2031. Yet the core issue remains – without any efficient way to hit against the black market, piling further restrictions would end up exposing consumers to the seediest types of gambling firms.