Coronavirus: Claims online gambling companies ‘targeting bored young men’ during pandemic Finbar O'Mallon, 7News.com · May 11, 2020 at 5:59 pm Online gambling companies have acted greedily by targeting “bored young men” during the coronavirus pandemic, a leading anti-gambling advocate says. With casinos and pub pokie rooms closed during the COVID-19 crisis, consumer data shows Australians are spending more than normal on online gambling sites. The Alliance for Gambling Reform’s Tim Costello wants the government to ban advertising for online gambling. “It’s targeting particularly bored young men who are in lockdown,” Mr Costello said. He said in the UK sports betting companies had voluntarily agreed not to advertise during the lockdown. Australia’s spending on online gambling was up nearly 150 per cent between April 26 and May 3 compared to a normal week, new data from economic advisors AlphaBeta and analytics company illion shows
