The Australian Government is proposing to tighten the rules around online trade promotions.

In early May the Australian Government released an exposure draft bill titled the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026 (Bill). This followed the Government’s response to the Parliamentary inquiry into online gambling harms, entitled ‘You win some, you lose more’ report (Murphy Report). While most of the Bill focuses on wagering advertising, it also introduces important changes to how online trade promotions are regulated.

In short, the changes are designed to ensure that lottery-style products cannot operate under the guise of trade promotions to avoid regulation under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA). Genuine trade promotions are not being banned, but some existing structures may no longer qualify for the current exemption under the IGA.

Depending upon structure, these changes are likely to impact any business offering subscription-based promotions and should be considered as part of broader regulatory risk management.

The Australian Government released its formal response to the parliamentary inquiry into online gambling harm on 12 May 2026, and for the first time in a generation, the regulatory landscape governing the relationship between sport and wagering is set to change fundamentally. Reforms announced on 2 April 2026 and legislated to commence from 1 January 2027 will affect every sporting code, club, venue and broadcaster in the country.

This is not a matter of watching and waiting. Organisations that begin planning now will be best placed to protect their commercial relationships, meet their compliance obligations and manage reputational risk.

On 12 May 2026, the Australian Government released its long-awaited formal response to the House of Representatives Standing Committee (Committee) inquiry into online gambling harm with significant implications for stakeholders, including wagering and lottery operators, consumers, banks, media organisations, technology providers, regulators and sporting bodies.

The Government's response addresses some of the Committee's 31 recommendations, with the Government calling on the states and territories to examine and respond to the others.

Of those addressed in the announcement, particularly in relation to reforms to online wagering, the Government has indicated its intention to introduce a package of legislative reforms to the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA) commencing 1 January 2027, leaving a relatively short period for engagement and preparation. The IGA provides significant enforcement tools to the responsible regulator, the Australian Communication and Media Authority (the ACMA).

On 12 May 2026, the Australian Government released its long-awaited formal response to the House of Representatives Standing Committee (Committee) inquiry into online gambling harm with significant implications for stakeholders, including wagering and lottery operators, consumers, banks, media organisations, technology providers, regulators and sporting bodies.

The Government's response addresses some of the Committee's 31 recommendations, with the Government calling on the states and territories to examine and respond to the others.

Of those addressed in the announcement, particularly in relation to reforms to online wagering, the Government has indicated its intention to introduce a package of legislative reforms to the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA) commencing 1 January 2027, leaving a relatively short period for engagement and preparation. The IGA provides significant enforcement tools to the responsible regulator, the Australian Communication and Media Authority (the ACMA).