Justine Davis MLA plans to introduce a Gambling Reform Bill to the NT Parliament next month, arguing the NT has a “responsibility to act", given many of Australia’s largest online gambling companies are licensed in the Northern Territory.
By Tegan George
Mon 21 Sep 2026 11.41 AEST
Photo: AAP Image/Amanda Parkinson
An independent politician in the Northern Territory is taking on some of Australia’s biggest betting companies, after accusing the Albanese government of squandering its chance to tackle the powerful sector.
Justine Davis MLA plans to introduce a Gambling Reform Bill to the NT Parliament next month, arguing the NT has a “responsibility to act”, given many of Australia’s largest online gambling companies are licensed in the Northern Territory.
“The Federal Government recently had an opportunity to make meaningful changes to gambling regulation, but it wasted it,” she said.
“Now it’s time for the NT Government to act.”
Ahead of introducing the bill, she has launched a petition and is urging people to add their name to “send the NT government a clear message”.
The bill will propose stronger protections for young people, a ban on gambling inducements – including free bets, bonus bets and VIP treatment – and tougher penalties for gambling operators that fail to meet their obligations
Ms Davis said it will also strengthen conflicts-of-interest requirements for commission members and make preventing gambling harm a clear purpose of gambling laws.
The move has been praised by gambling reform advocates.
“For too long, gambling regulation has put the interests of a powerful and profitable industry ahead of the wellbeing of people and communities,” said the Alliance for Gambling Reform’s chief advocate, Reverend Tim Costello.
“This is exactly the kind of leadership we need from the Northern Territory, and I strongly urge the NT Government to support this important initiative.”
Australia’s gambling losses have increased by 75 per cent since 2020, with more punters betting online.
Anglicare NT CEO Craig Kelly commended Ms Davis for her “bravery” in trying to lessen the harm in the community.
“Last year Australians lost over $30 billion in legal gambling. These huge losses are hurting people, families and communities and the NT has a shameful role in facilitating this,” he said.
The Albanese government was heavily criticised for delaying the release of its response to the landmark Murphy inquiry into online gambling harms.
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Chaired by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy, the inquiry made 31 recommendations for a public health approach to gambling harm, including a total ban on gambling advertising, a national regulator and an industry levy.
The reforms passed Parliament last month, with independent MP Andrew Wilkie describing the government’s response to the review as “absolutely appalling” and the reforms as “useless”.
“As the national regulator of online gambling, the NT has a responsibility to put people’s wellbeing ahead of the interests of the gambling industry. This Bill is an important step towards stronger protections and real accountability for gambling operators,” he said.
Independent Senator David Pocock also welcomed the bill.
“The Albanese Government has completely vacated the field, ignoring the multipartisan recommendation for a national regulator with the power to crack down on bad behaviour across this multibillion-dollar industry,” he said.
“In the absence of national leadership, I commend Justine Davis MLA for working to strengthen the NT regulator that the rest of Australia is being forced to rely on.”
The Australia Institute’s National Gambling Toll tracker shows Australians have lost over $111 billion since July 1, 2023.
“The tracker shows the staggering financial losses that have amassed since the Murphy Review was released three years ago. How different could this picture be if a full ban on gambling advertising had been introduced straight away?” said Dr Morgan Harrington, Research Manager at the Australia Institute.
“Polling consistently shows that Australians support a total ban on gambling advertising. This includes almost four in five Australians asked in the past month.”
Shiva Panchalingam, a gambling-harm lived-experience advocate, said he had heard “countless” stories of gambling companies knowingly targeting people with addiction to boost their profits.
“We have seen what the major parties here in the NT will allow gambling companies to get away with — this is a chance for both parties to show that they are serious about protecting Territorians and their families from the harm caused by the gambling industry,” he said.
Research published in August highlighted just how much gambling companies are hitting the jackpot in Australia, showing five of the biggest operators raked in $5.4 billion in a single year while paying just $107 million in company income tax.
“Gambling is a significant issue in the NT and action is required to reduce the harm it causes to people on low incomes, families and communities,” said Claire Pirrett, interim CEO of the NT Council of Social Service.
“This Bill is an opportunity for the NT Government to contribute to increasing safety for NT families by tightening the regulation of the gambling industry.”
