Gambling related harm is a significant public health concern. Australians lose over $32 billion on legal forms of gambling each year, representing the largest per capita losses in the world. The potential for harm has increased with the proliferation of online wagering sites and betting apps, which have fundamentally changed the way that people gamble.

The Impact Analysis (IA) considers a range of options for restrictions on wagering advertising. The IA provides an analysis of three potential policy options:

1. Option 1: maintain the status quo
2. Option 2 (preferred): legislative reform to introduce a comprehensive package of reforms and provide the ACMA with adequate enforcement powers 
3. Option 3: legislative reform to introduce a full ban on all wagering advertising and provide the ACMA with adequate enforcement powers.

The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sports and the Arts considers that Option 2 achieves an appropriate balance between meeting the stated policy objectives without unduly impacting the sustainability of the affected sectors. The recommended option is estimated to achieve a net benefit of $107.1 million per annum.

Assessment of the impact analysis: adequate.