Open Letter to the Northern Territory Government: It’s time to act on gambling harm

Monday 5 October 2026

To the Northern Territory Government, 

As Territorians and Australians, we are calling on you to put people before gambling industry profits. 

Australians lose more to gambling per capita than any other country in the world, but our current laws allow harmful industry practices to continue, and people are paying the price. 

This is not about stopping gambling. This is about stopping harm. 

The Federal Government recently had an opportunity to make meaningful changes to gambling regulation, but wasted it. 

The NT Government now has an opportunity, and a responsibility, to lead on gambling reform. 

Almost all of Australia’s largest online gambling companies are licensed and based here in the NT, meaning decisions made here have consequences far beyond the Territory. 

We believe the priority of gambling laws should be protecting people from gambling harm, not protecting gambling industry profits. 

That is why we are calling on the NT Government to strengthen the Territory’s gambling laws and support reformsthat would: 

• make preventing gambling harm a clear purpose of gambling laws; 
• introduce stronger conflict of interest requirements for Commission members; 
• ban harmful gambling inducements, including free bets, bonus bets and VIP treatment;
• strengthen protections for young people; and 
• introduce stronger penalties for gambling operators that fail to meet their obligations. 

These are practical measures that would help ensure gambling operators are held accountable and that the interests of people are placed ahead of the interests of an industry that profits when people lose. 

The Northern Territory has a unique opportunity to show national leadership on gambling harm. We believe the NT can lead the way in building a gambling regulatory system that puts people first. 

By signing, we support the principles and reforms outlined in this open letter and call on the NT Government to act.