New Northern Territory bill proposes deposit caps for under-25s in Australia

Australian politician Justine Davis has proposed new legislation in the Northern Territory (NT) parliament which would introduce monthly deposit limits for customers aged between 18 and 24.

The proposal includes several other restrictions and could have a wide impact as bookmakers with a NT licence are able to offer services across the country under federal law.

Davis has called for a total monthly deposit limit of A$500 (£263.60) for players aged 18 to 21, with a cap of A$1,000 put in place for those aged 22 to 24. The bill’s language does not refer to net deposits.

Furthermore, the amendment would raise the maximum fine threshold for operators for violating gambling regulations from A$194,000 to A$10m, or 10% of the company’s annual revenue. 

Operators would also be prohibited from offering any inducements to players, including sign-up bonuses, free bets, deposit matches or loyalty schemes. 

Affiliate revenue-share deals would also be banned should the bill become law.

The bill would oblige operators to “take all reasonable steps to prevent harm to customers caused by wagering”. 

These steps include continuous monitoring of customer wagering activity for indicators of harm, intervening when harm indicators are detected, designing wagering products and services to minimise harm, and “prioritising customer welfare over profit from wagering products and services”. 

The NT’s gambling regulator serves as a watchdog online gambling operators, with companies such as bet365, Entain and Sportsbet licensed in the region. 

Davis’ proposal follows on from the advertising reforms passed by the Albanese government earlier this year.  

The reforms included the limiting of TV ads to three-per-hour between 5am and 8.30pm, rather than the outright advertising ban proposed as part of the Murphy Report in 2023. 

Sports sponsors will also be phased out, limits will be imposed on sign-up bonuses, while an optout option for online advertising will be implemented. 

The reforms received criticism from lobbyists for not being stringent enough and from and trade bodies for potentially pushing players towards the black market. 

Davis said her measure was partly in response to the earlier reforms, which she claimed “fell far short” of the needs of Australians. 

She said: “Australians deserve gambling laws that put people’s safety and wellbeing ahead of gambling industry profits. Australians lose more to gambling than any other country in the world, but our current laws allow harmful industry practices to continue, and people are paying the price. 

“When I asked the government to take stronger action to reduce gambling harm, they voted no. That’s why I am introducing a bill to parliament that will strengthen safeguards, reduce gambling harm and better protect families and communities. 

“The CLP made some changes to our gambling laws earlier this year but these changes fell far short of what Territorians have told us they want to see to tackle gambling harm.  

“My bill will introduce stronger protections for young people, ban harmful inducements designed to encourage gambling, improve transparency, and hold the gambling industry accountable for the harm it causes. Gambling should never come at the expense of a person’s wellbeing, their family’s financial security, or their future.” 

So far, 33 organisations and leaders have signed a letter urging the NT government to support Davis’ bill.

Davis, who is a member of the NT Legislative Assembly for Johnston, assumed office in August 2024. She is also campaigning against data centres in the state.