The Victorian Gambling and Casino Commission chief exec warns Victorians are being exposed to harm.
Social media influencers who promote gambling could be breaking the law, and are exposing people to harm, warned Australia’s Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) chief executive, Suzy Neilan.
Advertising poker machines is prohibited in Australia, and influencer content around poker, gameplay or ‘wins’ content, “can be constituted as illegal gambling advertising in Victoria”, the VGCCC said.
The regulator is now planning to spread awareness among influencers of the legal consequences and potential harm caused by gambling with a targeted social media campaign.
Neilan said: “When influencers fan out wads of cash and celebrate winning thousands of dollars, they’re not only sharing content, but they’re also shaping perceptions and attitudes towards gambling and downplaying the very real risk of harm that comes with it.
“Gambling products, particularly poker machines and sports betting apps, can carry high risks of harm to people who gamble, and we’re not seeing that reality represented on social media.”
Posts are monitored by the VGCCC, and influencers can be fined up to (AUD)$24,421 if they are found to be breaking the law in regards to the promotion of gambling content.
Player losses in Victoria came to a total of (AUD)$3.14bn, which has prompted an Australia-wide crack-down on gambling ads. TV gambling ads have been restricted during school pick-up times, and online platforms are prohibited to show such ads unless the user is logged into an account, is aged 18 or over, and has already been shown an opt-out option.
“We are aware of influencers and other social media accounts posting content portraying gambling as harmless fun, a lifestyle, or a source of easy money. Many influencers have significant sway with their audiences and are regarded as aspirational figures among young adults aged 18–24,” added Neilan.
“Through these posts, young people are led to believe gambling doesn’t carry risk and pick-up gambling without understanding the potential for harm.”
Attitudes towards gambling ads in Australia have become strained, with Sportsbet going so far as to voluntarily keeping its logo off live screens in the AFL, in response to growing backlash against the frequency and potency of gambling ads.
Promotions regarding gambling and igaming are undergoing significant restrictive changes, which the Albanese government described as “the most significant reform on gambling that has ever been implemented”.
