Gambling ads: Why are we still betting on such a bad idea?

As the debate over online gambling advertising rages on, the sector remains quietly complicit, says Think HQ founder Jen Sharpe. She urges advertisers to stop hiding behind the excuse of “just doing our job” and start taking responsibility for their actions.

If you’re wondering why the debate around online gambling advertising in Australia feels like an end-of-the-pier revue, you need look no further than the star performers: the gambling industry, their obscenely-resourced lobbyists, and a complicit advertising sector.

Together, they’ve created a spectacle where the stakes are high, ethics are low, and the odds are never stacked in favour of the punter.

In truth, this sorry spectacle is no laughing matter. A Parliamentary committee recently handed down a report that recommended a full ban on online gambling advertising due to its harmful impact, particularly on Australian kids.

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