New gambling ad laws pass, but a loophole for high-rolling punters stays open

Parliament cracked down on betting ads but let gambling companies keep handing 'bonus bets' to punters they know are hooked. A 2023 inquiry wanted that practice banned outright. The government instead asked the industry to decide what counts as 'high risk'. Former addict Jesse Murphy received $43,700 in bonus bets, placed 15,000 bets worth nearly $1 million, and says the new laws wouldn't have helped him.