‘I won’t be part of it’: Gambling ads in State of Origin an absurdity, says Liberal senator

AFL and NRL audiences could still see an unlimited number of gambling ads during more than one-third of each season’s games, while the State of Origin series will continue to be mostly aired during time slots that have no ad limits under new wagering laws.

Liberal Senator Paul Scarr cited the “absurdity” of those exemptions as he became the latest opposition MP vowing to vote against the contentious gambling package as the laws reach the Senate after months of debate.

With the long-awaited gambling bill due to pass on Wednesday night, Rod Glover, the husband of late Labor MP Peta Murphy whose report three years ago catalysed a push for gambling ad bans , said the laws were a breakthrough “of sorts” but far from comprehensive.

Glover pointed the finger at the sports and media industries for lobbying the government to minimise any losses from gambling advertising revenue.

“The limits of the reforms reflect, in large part, the considerable lobbying power of the gambling industry, major sporting codes and media organisations,” Glover said on Wednesday.

“Organisations with a privileged place in Australian life have continued to put their commercial interests in gambling ahead of the social responsibilities that come with the influence, standing and trust they hold.”

The government’s new laws will limit gambling ads to three per hour for broadcast television and livestreaming services between 5am and 8.30pm. During those times, gambling ads can’t be shown during breaks, 15 minutes before the game or five minutes after.

Without the Coalition amendments, the start time would have been 6am, the pre-game blackout would be five minutes, and streaming services would have been exempt from all those restrictions if they required their adult users to register, prove their age, and provide users an opt-out option.

But either way, after 8.30pm, those rules don’t apply. The NRL and AFL both play multiple games each round where half-time breaks occur after 8.30pm.

Analysis by this masthead shows 75 of the 204 NRL games in the 2026 season will have been played with at least some of the half-time break after 8.30pm in NSW and Victoria. For the AFL, 86 games out of 207 across the season continue to be broadcast past 8.30pm. This masthead confirmed sports betting ads were seen during these game breaks last weekend.

The State of Origin’s three annual games – often the most viewed television events each year – all begin after 8pm, meaning unlimited gambling ads can be shown at half-time. The women’s competition also has half-time breaks that fall after 8.30pm.

Scarr described the package as “such a flawed piece of legislation that I have no choice but to cross the floor”.

“How many kids are going to be watching State of Origin from 8.05 to 8.30 and then go to bed at 8.30, and after 8.30 it becomes open slather? It’s an absurdity and I won’t be part of it,” he said.

Labor this week secured the Coalition’s support to pass its gambling laws by agreeing to a series of last-minute amendments to strengthen the legislation.