The Alliance for Gambling Reform (AGR) has appointed Sunita Bose as CEO, bringing an executive with a background in digital regulation and advocacy into the organisation as Australia implements changes to its federal gambling framework.
Bose will take over from Martin Thomas, who is stepping down for family reasons, and will begin the role on 24 August.
AGR is a national advocacy organisation focused on reducing gambling harm through policy change, community campaigns and work with local councils.
Her appointment follows seven years as Managing Director of the Digital Industry Group (DIGI), an Australian technology industry association.
Bose joined DIGI in 2019 and worked across policy areas including online safety, privacy, consumer protection and scams. She also served on the National Anti-Scam Centre Advisory Board.
Before DIGI, Bose spent more than five years as Head of Global Policy at Change.org, where her responsibilities included policies covering harmful online content, privacy and child protection. She previously worked in advocacy and communications roles at Oxfam and UNICEF.
The leadership change comes during a period of federal gambling policy reform. Parliament’s Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026 covers wagering advertising, illegal gambling services and protections under the BetStop national self-exclusion register. Most of its measures are scheduled to commence on 1 January 2027.
AGR participated in consultation on the legislation and pushed for stronger measures, including an opt-in rather than opt-out approach to online wagering advertising. It also called for clearer definitions covering influencers and other prominent people used in gambling promotions.
The organisation has also campaigned for a full phase-out of gambling advertising and restrictions on inducements, while launching its Parents for Gambling Reform campaign in July.
Australia recorded gambling expenditure, measured as net losses, of AU$31.5bn (US$20.3bn) in 2022/23, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Per capita losses were estimated at AU$1,527.
Australia’s Parliament passed its Gambling Reform Bill this week after more than three years of debate, introducing restrictions on wagering advertising and additional enforcement measures against illegal gambling operators.
AGR has operated for 10 years and is registered as a health promotion charity funded through donations and grants without gambling industry ties
