Now’s the time for adland to take a good, hard look in the mirror, gambling ad ban supporters say

If adopted, the proposed ban on gambling advertising would deliver a significant financial blow to advertising agencies – but supporters say the industry needs to suck it up.

A report handed down this week by a parliamentary inquiry probing the harms of online gambling made 31 sweeping recommendations, including a bombshell call to outlaw all gambling ads in four phases over the next three years.

Opponents reacted swiftly and angrily – understandably so given media operators bagged more than $300 million last year from gambling clients, half of which went to free-to-air broadcasters. And of course, the creatives who produce work for gambling operators and media agencies who buy space for them will also lose out should the ban get up.