Despite the alarmist claims of Communications Minister Michelle Rowland (“Gambling ad ban risks boom in offshore sites”, September 19), there is no evidence that when a nation bans advertisements promoting gambling, punters and gamers switch much of their money and attention to illegal offshore wagering sites.

Instead of allowing Australian gambling businesses to thrive, the Albanese government should implement proven measures to mitigate the terrible harms caused by gambling.

Rowland should take note of the fact that, in comparison to the $2.7 billion Australians annually lose to scans, we lose more than $27 billion to gambling.

In Australia, the scourge of gambling rivals the personal, medical and societal havoc caused by alcohol and other dangerous drugs.

It is time that federal parliament passed tough new laws banning any advertisements promoting gambling on television and all other media.

The result of tough anti-gambling legislation would produce similarly huge benefits as have the banning of ads promoting alcohol and cigarettes smoking.
Australians deserve nothing less.

Ross Fitzgerald, Redfern

The Sydney Morning Herald
Friday, September 20, 2024, p 15.