The story behind Ad Control.

This project began during the FIFA World Cup, when I noticed how many gambling ads appeared alongside the coverage on SBS.

After looking into gambling advertising controls, I discovered that SBS is one of the few streaming services that lets users opt out of gambling advertising. Once I'd enabled the setting, I became curious about the other streaming services we use, and whether they offered similar controls. That's what inspired me to build this website: a simple resource to help people understand what control they have over the gambling ads they see.

Ad Control has since expanded to include social media and audio and podcast platforms, where some services also provide settings that can reduce gambling advertising.

Who's behind Ad Control?

Ad Control was created and is maintained by Nick Colditz. I built it independently because I wanted Australians to have a simple way to understand what control they have over the gambling advertising they see on the services they use.

Independent and non-commercial

Ad Control is an independent, self-funded and non-commercial project. There is no business model behind the resource and I have no plans to monetise it. The goal is simply to help Australians find and use the options available to reduce their exposure to gambling advertising, while encouraging platforms to give people greater control.

Ratings and information are based on Ad Control's published assessment framework and research into each platform.

What happens next

In August 2026, new gambling advertising reforms became law in Australia. From 1 January 2027, online services that show gambling ads will be required to limit them to logged-in users verified as over 18 and give those users a way to opt out. A separate national register is also being developed to allow Australians to opt out of gambling advertising across online platforms in one place, although government sources have indicated it could take up to 12 months to establish.

Ad Control helps Australians find and use the controls available today, and will continue to track platform-specific opt-out options as the new requirements take effect. This will be particularly important while the national register is being developed, and may remain useful alongside it as platforms and their controls continue to change.

My goal is simply to make information about gambling advertising controls easy to find, celebrate the platforms that give users more choice, and encourage others to do the same.

See our Assessment Framework for exactly how platforms are categorised, or get in touch with corrections or suggestions.

Ad Control is designed to help people reduce their exposure to gambling advertising. If you or someone close to you is experiencing gambling harm, professional support is also available through Gambling Help Online↗.