Gambling advertisements will be banned on public transport in the nation's most populous state in a move labelled long overdue by industry reformers.
But NSW government ministers were forced to defend their perceived slow progress on reform of the state's heavyweight pokies industry after announcing the move on Tuesday.
Mirroring a change Victoria made in 2017, the NSW government said it would begin a 12-month phase-out period for the ads on trains, ferries and buses, as well as at state-owned station infrastructure.
The managers of assets the government does not own - such as bus stops, retail outlets and nearby private properties - will be encouraged to align with the ban.
“Gambling advertising has been a common sight on our public transport for a couple of years now ... parents are rightly worried about the impact it has on their kids, so it's not something that needs to be on our transport network," Transport Minister Jo Haylen said.
But NSW is yet to act on a report into cashless gaming, which recommended a statewide account-based system by 2028 to prevent money laundering and reduce problem gambling.
That was triggered by an earlier report from the NSW Crime Commission, which found criminals were routinely using pokies to launder their illicit earnings.
“We have a culture in NSW that has built up over decades, it is not something that will change overnight,” Gaming Minister David Harris said.
The transport system features one of the state's largest group of advertising assets, including about 800 ad boards at train stations, and more than 3700 spots on buses and other spaces that can be used for promotion.
Alliance for Gambling Reform chief executive Martin Thomas said the ban was “long overdue”.
“These are public assets and ads that reach children, and it's completely inappropriate they feature gambling advertisements that not only harm kids, but put a critical drain on the state budget through the damage gambling causes,” he told AAP.
“The federal government has been sitting on a report for 18 months now which has recommended the full ban on all gambling ads ... we don't have to have triggering ads for people every minute we turn on our screens, or even just catch a bus.”
Responsible Wagering Australia chief executive Kai Cantwell - whose organisation represents prominent betting companies including Sportsbet and bet365 - said the ban was a “positive step”.
“It is also vital that states and territories work with the federal government on reforms to avoid a patchwork approach that risks confusion and could undermine the effectiveness of broader national measures currently under consideration," he said.
A landmark 2023 report delivered by then-federal Labor MP Peta Murphy, who has since died, recommended a blanket ban on gambling advertisements, including on TV.
But the federal government has pushed back its scheduled response, prompting several crossbench MPs to accuse Labor of capitulating to the gambling lobby.
That is despite Australians losing about $25 billion gambling every year, the most in the world on a per-capita basis.
