Thursday, 10 September 2026

 Anasina GRAY-BARBERIO (Northern Metropolitan) (12:21): (1480) My question is to the Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation. Minister, today is R U OK? Day. People experiencing gambling harm are more likely to have mental health concerns from feelings of guilt and regret, right through to bankruptcy, broken relationships, depression, anxiety or thoughts of suicide. Young men especially face a greater risk of gambling harm, with one-third to one-half of young adults aged between 18 and 24 gambling each year. Young men are most exposed to gambling through online manosphere content. This weaponises young men’s mental health and ideas about masculinity, status and financial success. Minister, will this Labor government commit to a targeted education campaign on the harms of gambling to stop the gambling industry profiting off young men’s vulnerabilities and insecurities?

 Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Finance, Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Government Services) (12:22): I thank Ms Gray-Barberio for a really good question today in relation to the harm caused by gambling. We do know that it is an epidemic across all segments of society, across all our electorates. We hear it, and we have seen federally some of the worst elements play out publicly in relation to the industry more broadly. But as a government we are proud of our record. No government has done more in the history of this state to tackle gambling harm. We have put in closure periods from 4 am to 10 am and slowed down spin rates, and load-up limits have come down from $1000 to $100 for people playing pokies. We have implemented advertising bans near schools and on public transport. This is really nation-leading work, and we are committed to doing more.

In relation to some of these measures, I know that the regulator, the VGCCC, runs a range of campaigns in relation to gambling harm. I regularly meet with the CEO and chair Chris O’Neill, who does a fantastic job in raising these issues. This is what the regulator’s work is in terms of raising concerns about gambling harm. Of course some of this also falls into broader health policies, especially when you are talking about the mental health aspects. But the gambling regulator, the VGCCC, is the lead, and it is doing a lot of work in this space.

 Anasina GRAY-BARBERIO (Northern Metropolitan) (12:23): Thank you, Minister. The Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation found that advertising at sporting events and during broadcasts normalises gambling. Advertising and promotions influence behaviour, with 27 per cent of betters and 35 per cent of weekly betters reporting that advertising and promotions motivated them to bet. Minister, will the Victorian Labor government prohibit gambling advertising, including in-stadium advertising and advertising on sports jerseys?

 Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Finance, Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Government Services) (12:24): I thank Ms Gray-Barberio for her supplementary question. It is a really good question. I think with advertising more broadly there is a broad overlap with the Commonwealth, and I look forward to the Commonwealth’s announcements about reforms in this space around advertising, especially in terms of television and digital media. I think when we are talking about sports jerseys, obviously we are talking about a crossover with the Corporations Act. Again, there is a bit of Commonwealth overlap. But from our perspective we are committed to seeing this advertising reduce, and that is why we have already taken measures that are within our realm – close to schools and on public transport we have banned it – but of course there is more work to be done. I look forward to the Commonwealth introducing the broader package of reforms, a lot of which is related to advertising.