Independent candidate for Sturt, Dr Verity Cooper, has called for sweeping reforms to Australia’s online gambling industry, warning that the sector’s influence over politics is delaying desperately needed protections, with children and young Australians at risk of long-term harm.
Dr Cooper criticises both major parties for accepting millions in political donations from wagering companies over the past decade, saying these links have created a culture of silence and stalled progress on meaningful reform.
“Gambling in Australia has reached crisis levels and last year alone, Australians lost a staggering $32 billion. That’s more than any other country, and the fastest growing part of that is online betting, which driven by relentless advertising and political inaction,” she said.
“We cannot expect real change when the same companies fuelling gambling addiction are funding the campaigns of those in power. It’s time to get the gambling industry out of politics, full stop.”
“The 2023 parliamentary inquiry into online gambling recommended a phased ban on gambling advertising across all media, and the government must act now without delay.
“We don’t need more research. We need courage. The evidence is in: gambling ads are grooming the next generation of problem gamblers.”
Dr Cooper highlighted the particular vulnerability of children and adolescents, with research showing that children are being exposed to gambling promotions during sport and online entertainment, often before they can even fully understand what gambling is.
“We are allowing children to be targeted by an industry that profits from addiction. We are normalising betting at the same time they’re learning to kick a footy or watch the cricket. That is not harmless, it’s harmful, calculated conditioning.” she said.
“This early exposure is setting young people up for a destructive relationship with gambling that can carry into adulthood and beyond.”
“The real tragedy is that gambling doesn’t just cost people money. It costs them futures. For many young Australians, it’s the difference between building savings or falling into debt, between owning a home or gambling away a deposit.”
Dr Cooper said that rising online gambling losses are part of a broader housing affordability crisis, particularly for young Australians already struggling with housing costs and the cost of living.
“When one in three gambling dollars is lost online, and the average adult is losing more than $1,500 a year, it’s not just a personal issue, it’s a national one. This is money that should be going towards rent, mortgages, groceries, not into the pockets of offshore bookmakers.”
Dr Cooper is calling for:
- A total ban on gambling advertising across all media within three years.
- An immediate end to political donations and corporate sponsorships from gambling companies.
- Stronger national regulation and enforcement of online wagering.
- Mandatory education campaigns to counter the normalisation of gambling in sport and media.
“This is about our collective wellbeing. About protecting our children. About building a future where we invest in opportunity, not addiction,” she said.
About Dr Cooper:
Dr Cooper has lived in Sturt for more than 30 years, is a local GP — and most importantly — not a career politician. She is a doctor, a mum, a successful businesswoman and a proud member of a family with deep roots in South Australia.
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