How the NT won Australia's race-to-the-bottom on online gambling regulation

Wed 30 Sep 2026 17.16 AEST

Society & Inequality

How the NT won Australia's race-to-the-bottom on online gambling regulation

AAP Image/(A)manda Parkinson

Australia’s multibillion-dollar online gambling industry is effectively regulated by a Northern Territory body with no full-time staff, says Independent MLA Justine Davis.

On this episode of Follow the Money, Justine Davis, Independent Member for Johnston in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly, joins Ebony Bennett to discuss Australians’ extraordinary gambling losses, the federal government’s failure to create a national regulator for online gambling, and her proposal to lift standards in the NT.

This episode was recorded on Friday 25 September.

If this episode raised issues for you, you can call the National Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858 for free, professional and confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Or visit Gambling Help Online at www.gamblinghelponline.org.au.

If you or anyone you know needs help, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or online at www.lifeline.org.au.

Guest: Justine Davis, Member for Johnston, Northern Territory Legislative Assembly // @justinedavismla

Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett

Show notes:

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National Gambling Toll, the Australia Institute

SIGN THE PETITION: Ban online gambling ads!, the Australia Institute

“Appalling”: Wilkie slams government’s response to gambling inquiry, Follow the Money, the Australia Institute (August 2026)

Australia’s de facto online gambling regulator stops accepting gifts from betting companies, for now by Jack Hislop, ABC News (November 2025)

NT’s regulation of Australia’s online gambling industry labelled a ‘complete farce’ by Jack Hislop, ABC News (April 2025)

Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions

We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Subscribe to Follow the Money on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

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