Northern Territory MLA Proposes Deposit Caps for Young Adults, Inducement Ban and Penalty Increase for Licensed Bookmakers

Independent Northern Territory MLA Justine Davis is scheduled to introduce a private member’s bill in parliament next Wednesday that would impose monthly deposit caps on younger online betting customers and ban inducements offered by bookmakers.

The bill caps deposits at A$500 for customers aged 18 to 21 and A$1,000 for those aged 22 to 24. It prohibits bonus bets, VIP schemes and other inducements. Licensed operators would face a positive duty to take all reasonable steps to prevent harm to customers. The maximum disciplinary penalty would rise from A$194,000 to A$10 million (US$6.9 million) or 10% of annual revenue.

The Northern Territory licenses 50 online bookmakers, including Sportsbet, Ladbrokes and Bet365. The regulator there functions as Australia’s de facto national watchdog for the sector. The bill would also ban gambling advertisements likely to be available to children and impose tighter conflict-of-interest rules on Northern Territory Wagering Commission members, including a public register and prohibition on gifts from bookmakers.

Background and Federal Context

The proposals follow a 2023 federal inquiry that recommended a national gambling regulator and an inducement ban. Earlier this year the NT government barred Wagering Commission members from owning racehorses or holding accounts with licensed bookmakers and doubled the annual tax cap for NT-licensed operators to A$3 million from A$1.5 million. Davis said federal reforms did not go far enough. “The changes are not going to stop gambling, but they are going to prevent harm being done to people, both here in the Territory and across Australia,” she stated, as first reported by Yogonet International.

Stakeholder Responses

A letter signed by 33 advocacy organisations and independent federal MP Andrew Wilkie backs the bill. Wilkie said it “attempted to do what the federal government has so far failed to do” and would position the Territory as a national leader whose reforms “would trickle through the rest of the country.” NT Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby said the government would consider sensible proposals on their merits but added that “you can’t legislate personal responsibility.” Labor has indicated support, though the opposition deputy leader called for referral to the Legislative Scrutiny Committee.

Reporting: Yogonet International

Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published source reporting. SCCG Management holds editorial responsibility.