The Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) is looking to ban all forms of gambling advertising on public transport.

This ban will apply to all advertising assets owned or controlled by Transport for NSW, including internal and external advertising on buses, trains, metro, light rail, train stations and ferry terminals.

Transport for NSW operates one of the largest advertising asset portfolios in Australia with 798 advertising boards at Sydney train stations, 49 road-facing digital billboards, and ad space on over 3,700 urban buses and 76 trams and trains.

Where assets are not owned by Transport for NSW, the state government will work with the relevant entities to see how their advertising can align with the gambling advertising ban.

Now that the legislation has been introduced, the NSW government will work with multiple advertising contract holders to implement the required changes over the next 12 months.

Jo Haylen, Minister for Transport, commented: “Gambling advertising has been a common sight on our public transport for a couple of years now, and I’m pleased our government is taking action to remove it. Parents are rightly worried about the impact it has on their kids, so its not something that we think that needs to be on our transport network.”

“With over 3,500 buses, close to 800 advertising assets at train stations, as well as advertising on light rail and trains, Transport’s advertising contracts are vast. Because of the scale it will take some time to implement this change, but we will be working closely with our contract partners over the next 12 months to get this done.”

David Harris, NSW Minister for Gaming and Racing, added: “Removing gambling advertising from public transport is another demonstration of the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to reducing gambling harm in NSW.

“This move will reduce the public’s exposure to gambling advertising and builds on the suite of reforms the government has introduced over the past 20 months to reduce harmful impacts of gambling.”