Media Centre
Australia's independent resource for gambling advertising controls across streaming, social media and audio platforms.
Why this matters
Gambling advertising appears across many of the streaming, social media and audio platforms Australians use every day, but the controls available to users vary widely and can be difficult to find. Ad Control helps Australians discover and use the controls that are available today while tracking how platforms respond as industry practices and legislation evolve.
Tracking what has changed, and when.
View the latest platform and policy updatesCurrent snapshot
- 31platforms reviewed
- 3platforms provide strong gambling advertising controls
- 6platforms provide some gambling advertising control
- 3platforms do not show paid gambling advertising
- 10platforms offer paid ad-free options
- 9platforms currently provide no gambling-specific controls
Key findings
- 3 of the 31 platforms reviewed provide strong gambling advertising controls: SBS On Demand, YouTube and Reddit. These platforms provide dedicated controls intended to substantially restrict gambling advertising, although none guarantees that every gambling-related ad will be removed.
- 6 platforms provide some gambling advertising control: Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, Snapchat and Spotify. These platforms provide dedicated settings that can reduce gambling advertising, but do not indicate that the category will be substantially excluded.
- The distinction between Strong control and Some control is based on how the platform describes the intended effect of its control. Ad Control does not measure the percentage of gambling ads removed.
- Social media currently has the greatest concentration of gambling-specific controls in Ad Control's comparison. YouTube, Reddit, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok and Snapchat all provide a way to reduce gambling advertising. Spotify is the first audio platform reviewed by Ad Control with a dedicated gambling advertising preference.
- On Meta platforms, Ad Control recommends setting both "Gambling" and "Real money gaming" to See less. Connected Facebook, Instagram and Threads accounts only need the preference changed once.
- 10 platforms offer paid ad-free options rather than a free gambling-specific control. Paying for an ad-free option is not the same as being able to specifically opt out of gambling advertising, and some advertising may remain depending on the service and content.
- 3 platforms are classified as not showing paid gambling advertising, including LinkedIn, whose advertising policy prohibits gambling advertising.
- 9 platforms currently provide no gambling-specific control or broader ad-free option.
- In total, 9 platforms provide a gambling-specific control, but only 3 describe that control in terms strong enough to receive Ad Control's Strong control rating.
- New Australian gambling advertising reforms are due to take effect from 1 January 2027. Online services covered by the requirements will need to restrict wagering advertising to eligible logged-in adult users and provide those users with a way to opt out. Ad Control will track how platforms implement these requirements.
About Ad Control
Ad Control is an independent website that tracks gambling advertising controls across major streaming, social media and audio platforms used in Australia.
We help Australians quickly understand what control they have over gambling advertising by comparing platforms, explaining what controls are available, and providing simple step-by-step instructions where gambling ad controls exist.
At a glance
- Ad Control
- Independent Australian consumer information resource
- Purpose
- Help Australians understand and use gambling advertising controls across streaming, social media and audio platforms.
- Coverage
- Major streaming, social media and audio platforms used in Australia.
- Method
- Independent assessment using publicly available information, official platform documentation and direct testing where possible.
- Last updated
- September 2026
Why Ad Control exists
Ad Control was created after discovering that SBS On Demand quietly introduced gambling advertising controls—something many Australians are unaware exists.
After comparing other major streaming services, it became clear there was no simple, independent resource explaining which platforms provide gambling advertising controls and how to use them.
Ad Control has since expanded to social media and audio and podcast platforms, with the same goal: making gambling advertising controls easy to find and encouraging greater transparency from the platforms Australians use.
Assessment methodology
Streaming, social media and audio platforms are assessed using Ad Control's public Assessment Framework.
Where a platform provides a gambling-specific control, Ad Control also considers how strongly the platform says that control will restrict gambling advertising. Strong and Some control ratings are based on the platform's stated behaviour and documented limitations, not measured reductions in advertising exposure.
Assessments are based on:
- Official platform documentation
- Publicly available information
- Direct testing where possible
- Information submitted by platform providers
Platform submissions are welcomed, however all updates are independently reviewed before changes are made to platform listings.
Founder quote
"I'd wager most Australians don't even know they have the option to control the ads they see, let alone how to do it. Ad Control exists to make that information easy to find while encouraging greater transparency from the platforms we use."
Media enquiries
Journalists are welcome to contact Ad Control regarding:
- Platform comparisons
- Gambling advertising controls
- Assessment methodology
- Platform updates
- Background information
Editorial independence
Ad Control is an independent project.
Platform providers are encouraged to submit corrections or updates, however all information is independently reviewed before publication.
Citing Ad Control
When referencing Ad Control, please link to AdControl.au and include the date accessed, as platform information may change over time.