In what could be a dramatic shift in shaping Australia’s gambling framework, the ACMA has rejected the revised Code of Practice put forward for Free TV Australia.
The body emphasised it had given careful consideration to the decision. However, there were key elements that it just couldn’t accept.
Of note, it stated that extension of the times in which M-rated content would be allowed had the potential to increase the exposure of gambling to minors.
The newly pitched code fell short in terms of providing effective safeguards for minors, according to the ACMA, as the body’s decision means the current code of practice will remain in place.
Following its decision to reject the latest proposals, the ACMA has urged Free TV to take a closer examination of the current gambling framework that is in place.
It comes amidst wider reforms within the Australian gambling market as the country embarks on a spell of regulatory tightening.
Most recently, the ACMA issued a stark warning to social media influencers over their promotional activity involving the unlicensed sector.
The ACMA warned that creators will be hit with major fines if found to be encouraging any engagement with the black market, as it continues to grow amongst Australian players.
New regulations are now set to come into force at the end of 2025 to ban anyone age 16 or under from TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and X. However, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, is now calling for YouTube to be included in the list.
She argued the Government should not name specific platforms as exclusions: “Our recommendation was that no specific platform be exempted because the relative risks and harms can change at any given moment.”
