Two years ago, the late Peta Murphy presented a landmark parliamentary report titled You Win Some, You Lose More to the Federal Parliament.

The Murphy report set out 31 urgent recommendations to rein in online gambling in Australia.

In the past two years, the Albanese government has failed to respond to that report – while Australians have lost more than $50 billion to gambling.

We are, per capita, the world’s biggest gambling losers. In 2024 alone, the average Australian gambler lost nearly $2500 — about the same as a year’s worth of electricity bills.

Gambling doesn’t just cost money. It leaves behind a trail of devastation – mental health crises, domestic violence, financial ruin, and family breakdowns. It costs lives.

Nowhere is the threat growing faster than online gambling, driven by a relentless flood of ads during football matches, on social media, and across our TV screens.

The ads glamourise quick wins and target vulnerable Australians, especially our kids. Nearly half of all young Australians gamble before they even turn 18. Gambling habits starting young tend to persist.

This is a public health crisis – and we know how to fix it.

Australia showed great courage – and led the world – when it banned tobacco advertising.

We can show that leadership again by adopting recommendation 26 of the Murphy report, for a phased-in total ban on all advertising for online gambling.

This isn’t a fringe opinion. Three in four Australians support a ban. Four in five say we should keep gambling ads off social media, stadiums and team jerseys.

For years, public health experts, mental health professionals, anti-violence advocates and sporting legends have called for urgent action. Members of all major parties backed the Murphy report in Parliament.

The evidence is in. The community support is clear. What we need now is political will.

The government hasn’t acted yet because it has listened to the media, to the sporting codes, to their lobbyists and their donors.

Between 1998 and 2020, gambling-related organisations donated over $80 million to Australian political parties. 

Australians are ready. Families are pleading. Parliament has spoken.

Hundreds of Australians shared their stories with Peta Murphy’s inquiry in the hope that others won’t suffer as they have.

We need our government to honour that generosity and faith by banning online gambling ads.

Dr Monique Ryan is the independent member for the federal seat of Kooyong and a former paediatric neurologist