Online sports betting is targeting young Australians. This academic wants more to be done to protect them

Fewer people are gambling in Australia, but more people bet on sports. Online betting platforms like Sportsbet, PointsBet and Ladbrokes are making it easier to bet anywhere. Advertising for gambling is increasing. Young people, especially men, are more interested in sports betting. According to a government report, 23% of sports punters made their first bet before they were 18. 70% young men are at risk of gambling harms. The overall gambling average is 6%.   i.e. the gambling industry spends about $1.5-1 billion a year on gambling.

Kids are paying attention to gambling ads. They recognise colours, taglines and jingles associated with different brands. They also remember where they saw the ads, whether that be through television, social media or on sporting grounds. It builds up a picture that kids are really paying to these ads and they're seeing them in multiple places.

Professor Thomas says the rise of celebrities used in sports betting ads lends "trust and credibility" to these products. She says some of the advertised promotions may incentivise gambling. The federal government has rolled out new requirements for online betting companies to advertise tougher, research-backed messages about gambling harms. Both the AFL and NRL receive an estimated $50 million annually from their relationships with Sportsbet. SportsBet has been criticised for engaging in prohibited ads across its social media platforms.

Alex Russell is an academic at Central Queensland University's Experimental Gambling Research Laboratory. He wants to change the current system of betting limitations on online sports betting platforms. He also wants more to be done to protect young Australians. The current limitations are unique to each betting company and are on a per operator basis.