As India bans real-money gaming, Usman Khawaja urges Australia to curb gambling ads

Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja has urged the government to take stronger action against gambling advertisements, just as India has done by banning real-money online games under the Online Gaming Bill 2025.

In Australia, a recent parliamentary inquiry looked closely at the issue of gambling harm and produced a detailed report titled You Win Some, You Lose More. The report made 31 recommendations for reform, calling gambling a growing public health problem.

Among its proposals were the creation of a national gambling regulator funded by levies on wagering companies, bans on inducements and gambling advertising, stronger safeguards for vulnerable groups, mandatory data sharing from betting operators, more funding for research, and wide-reaching education campaigns. It also urged the government to crack down harder on illegal betting sites that often target Australian audiences.

Khawaja has said he wants to personally take his concerns to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and push for these recommendations to be put into action. Speaking on the ABC’s podcast, he said sport had a special responsibility to protect young people from being exposed to constant gambling promotion.

“I think the biggest thing for us is responsibility to the younger generation. When I watch an NRL game — and I love footy, go the Raiders — I see gambling every single time before the game. I see the odds every single time,” Khawaja said.

He explained that the connection between sport and gambling has become far too normal, with many teenagers now seeing betting as part of the experience of watching games. “Nowadays I’m seeing 15-16-year-olds with betting accounts. They feel like they have to bet to enjoy sports. Sport and betting just go together, which is a bizarre shift. If we keep putting gambling in front of kids without showing the consequences, it can be a very slippery slope,” he added.

Khawaja believes that a ban on gambling ads in sport would be a major step forward in Australia.

“I think we need to do more. I’d love to see very little gambling or gambling ads during sporting events. That’s something players, organisers and the government need to work on together to make sure the younger generation is protected,” he said.