NT bonus-bet ban bill introduced; Davis says inquiry refused

The Northern Territory bill that would ban betting bonuses at the bookmakers licensed there is now formally before the Legislative Assembly. Independent member for Johnston Justine Davis introduced the Racing and Wagering Amendment (Harm Prevention) Bill 2026 on Wednesday 14 October, and the official NT Legislation portal now lists it under bills before the Assembly, with Davis as sponsor.

Davis says she asked the Country Liberal Party (CLP) government to refer the bill to the Assembly's Legislative Scrutiny Committee for an inquiry, and that it refused. In response she has opened her own "Community Scrutiny Forum" inquiry, which takes public submissions and publishes them on her website unless the sender asks to stay anonymous. No date for debate or a vote has been published.

What the bill would change

Davis's summary of the introduced bill lists five areas. They match the consultation draft we covered on 9 October:

• A ban on inducements. Sign-up bonuses, free bets, deposit matches, loyalty schemes and other offers that encourage people to start or keep betting would be prohibited, along with commissions linked to customer losses.
• Deposit caps for young adults. Monthly deposits would be capped at A$500 for customers aged 18 to 21 and A$1,000 for those aged 22 to 24. Advertising aimed at children, showing children betting or likely to reach children would be restricted.
• A duty to prevent harm. Wagering licensees would have to take reasonable steps to prevent harm, including action plans, reporting and mandatory suspension of service in set cases. Harmed customers would get a right to sue, with the licensee having to prove it met its duty.
• Conflict-of-interest rules for members of the NT's gambling commission, including a public register, a ban on gifts from licensees and a ban on holding accounts with any licensed Australian wagering provider.
• Tougher enforcement, including higher maximum financial penalties for licensees and a ban on delegating licensing decisions.

Why a territory bill matters nationally

Australia does not license online casinos, so this is about sports and racing betting, not casino bonuses. But the Territory is where much of the online bookmaking market is licensed: the ABC counts 50 online bookmakers with NT licences, and Davis names Sportsbet, Ladbrokes and bet365 among the companies registered there. Rules written into NT licences would reach customers of those brands across the country.

That is also why the bill faces resistance. The bookmaker lobby pushed back after the draft was published, and Labor said last week it would support the bill but wanted it sent to the scrutiny committee first, according to the ABC. Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby said the government would consider "sensible proposals".

What this means for bettors

Nothing changes yet. The bill is not law, and the rules for NT-licensed bookmakers are unchanged for now. If the bill passed in its current form, NT-licensed bookmakers could no longer offer sign-up bonuses, free bets, deposit matches or loyalty schemes, and customers aged 18 to 24 would face monthly deposit caps of A$500 or A$1,000. Anyone who wants a say can make a submission through Davis's forum.

18+. Gambling can be addictive. If it stops being fun, see our responsible gambling page. In Australia, help is available through Gambling Help Online and BetStop, the national self-exclusion register.