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Read Full BioA group that campaigned for a ban on social media for under-16s in Australia has been accused of lobbying for the restriction to distract from a ban on gambling ads.
On December 10, Australia became the first country in the world to ban children under 16 years old from having social media accounts.
The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 was passed by parliament last year, but only came into effect last week.
However, there have been accusations that the ban was implemented in response to lobbying by gambling interest groups. The group 36 Months campaigned for the ban. It is backed by advertising agency Finch, which has frequently produced gambling ads for the country’s major sportsbooks.
Government Abandons Plans to Ban Gambling Ads
While implementing the restrictions on children using social media, the Australian government has shelved plans to introduce a ban on gambling ads.
The Australian Financial Review reported that the government “is expected to abandon plans for a total ban on online gambling advertising, using the under-16 social media restrictions as cover to water down the policy”.
When announcing the new social media ban, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated, “We’ve passed important legislation to keep our kids safe online.”
Lobby group 36 Months campaigned for the ban, stating, “Social platforms target teens in their most vulnerable moments. You can’t out-parent an algorithm that has been weaponised in this way.”
Campaign Funded By Agency Making Gambling Ads
36 Months was formed in May last year by Finch founder Rob Galluzzo, Head of Communications Greg Attwells, and Nova 96.9 radio host Michael “Wippa” Wipfli.
Finch is an advertising production company that has made ads for Australia’s biggest betting companies, including TAB, Ladbrokes, Sportsbet, and CrownBet (now BetEasy).
In an email to Australian news site Crikey, Attwells confirmed, “Finch has supported 36 Months financially, more than any other brand to date. They have been our main supporter and source of funding.”
While the campaign claimed it was to protect children from social media, the ban on social media rather than gambling ads could bring financial benefit to Finch.
There have been calls to implement further restrictions on gambling ads in Australia, with campaigners arguing that the frequency of promotions is leading to underage gambling. Cricketer Usman Khawaja stated, “There are 16-year-olds with gambling accounts, and they cannot watch the game without putting a bet on.”
Politicians Embedded With Gambling Lobby Groups
The Alliance for Gambling Reform has argued that politicians are not implementing a ban on gambling ads due to ties to industry lobby groups.
The group revealed last year that at least 19 politicians have accepted hospitality from wagering companies. The events included the Melbourne Cup, Australian Open, AFL matches, and cricket games.
Tim Costello, the Alliance for Gambling Reform’s chief advocate, said, “These results show how our political system can be exploited by the rich and powerful to lobby in secret against popular changes such as the proposed gambling ad ban to the detriment of the Australian community.”
Gambling lobby group Responsible Wagering Australia (RWA) has also been accused of infiltrating the Australian Parliament Sports Club. RWA denied the accusations, with Chief Executive Kai Cantwell stating, “RWA’s work on regulation and harm reduction happens through the proper parliamentary and regulatory processes, not on the sporting field.”
The effect of the social media ban on underage gambling remains unknown. With the ban coming into effect only last week, other countries will also be monitoring Australia to see the benefits of banning children from using social media.
