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Australians are the biggest losers when it comes to gambling and the federal government is facing pressure to take action to reduce harm.

On Monday, new data from the Australian Gambling Research Centre showed three quarters of Australians gambled at least once in the past year while almost two in five gamble weekly.

Independent MP Rebekha Sharkie introduced a proposal to ban credit cards from being used for online gambling services.

Ms Sharkie said Australians were losing money they did not have due to gambling addiction and the federal parliament must take urgent action.

Her proposed legislation would also require companies to share the total amount a user had previously lost every time they opened the gambling app.

People would be required to acknowledge those losses before being permitted to enter another bet.

"If one person pauses to reflect on their gambling behaviour based on this information this bill would be worth it," Ms Sharkie said.

"Per capita (Australians) are the world's biggest losers and figures from 2018/19 show that we lose $25 billion every year."

Labor backbencher Mike Freelander supported Ms Sharkie's proposed reform and said the Albanese government was committed to reducing gambling harm.

"People are losing businesses, losing their families, losing their livelihoods because of the access to credit cards and use in online gambling," he said.

"It is destroying lives and destroying livelihoods (and) it's long past time for action."

In the coming months, the federal government will implement the first national self-exclusion register, BetStop.

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland stopped short of calling on NSW premier-elect Chris Minns to back a statewide rollout of cashless pokie cards.

Mr Minns pledged to rollout a cashless gaming trial on hundreds of machines in a bid to counter former premier Dominic Perrottet's gambling reforms.

Ms Rowland said the NSW Labor leader went to the election with a clear policy.

"People made their decision there. This is an area that is regulated under state law and I expect that he will hold true to his election commitments," she told the ABC.

Almost half of those who gambled were classified as being at some risk of gambling harm, including mental health issues and unmanageable debt, according to the new research.

When it comes to gambling ads, three-quarters of Australian adults reported seeing or hearing sports or race betting advertisements at least once a week in the past 12 months.

Twenty-one per cent of people were prompted to start betting for the first time after seeing an ad, while 34 per cent increased the amount they spent.

Seventy-seven per cent of Australians believed there were too many opportunities to gamble, while 59 per cent said it should be discouraged.

© AAP 2023

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has stopped short of calling on NSW premier-elect Chris Minns to back cashless pokie cards across his state, as shocking new data reveals the extent of gambling harm.

Mr Minns pledged to rollout a cashless gaming trial on hundreds of machines in a bid to counter former premier Dominic Perrottet's gambling reforms.

Ms Rowland said the NSW Labor leader went to the election with a clear policy.

"People made their decision there. This is an area that is regulated under state law and I expect that he will hold true to his election commitments," she told the ABC.

"I also expect that, as premier, he will be open and consultative about that process, that he's also very committed to harm minimisation and that he will ensure that what the community expects in terms of delivering on his commitments, he fulfils."

When asked how voters could trust her ability to regulate the industry after accepting a $19,000 donation from online gambling company Sportsbet, Ms Rowland said she was taking action now.

"It's very clear that we understand the community expects action in this area ... and I'm getting on with the job," she said.

Ms Rowland has previously vowed she would not take any more money from gambling companies now that she is minister.

The Australian Gambling Research Centre found lotteries and scratchies were the most common products used (64 per cent), followed by racing (38 per cent), sports betting (34 per cent) and pokies (33 per cent).

Almost half of those who gambled were classified as being at some risk of gambling harm, including mental health issues and unmanageable debt.

When it comes to gambling ads, three quarters of Australian adults reported seeing or hearing sports or race betting advertisements at least once a week in the past 12 months.

Two in five were exposed to those ads four or more times a week.

Twenty-one per cent of people were prompted to start betting for the first time after seeing an ad, while 34 per cent increased the amount they spent.

"Exposure to wagering advertising is leading to riskier betting behaviour and escalating the likelihood of experiencing gambling harms," the research centre's executive manager Rebecca Jenkinson said.

"The report also captures the concerns of the Australian public that wagering advertising normalises gambling activity."

Seventy-seven per cent of Australians believe there are too many opportunities to gamble, while 59 per cent say it should be discouraged.

The federal government has said it is committed to reducing gambling harm.

From this week, consistent messaging will be used across the country while wagering service staff will be required to complete new training around gambling harm.

In the coming months, the federal government will also implement the first national self-exclusion register called BetStop.

© AAP 2023

A fourth body has been found by rescue crews two days after a powerful blast at a chocolate factory shook a small town in Pennsylvania. Three people are still missing.

West Reading Borough Chief of Police Wayne Holben confirmed the body of a fourth victim was found under debris early on Sunday at the R.M. Palmer Co. plant in the borough of West Reading, about 96 kilometres northwest of Philadelphia.

Rescue crews have been using heat imaging equipment and dogs to search for possible survivors after the blast destroyed one building and damaged a neighbouring building. Crews were now using heavy equipment to carefully pull debris from the site, Holben said.

Borough Fire Chief Chad Moyer said on Saturday night that the chance of finding survivors was "decreasing rapidly" due to the explosion's force and the amount of time that had passed.

Officials said they had no update on the condition of a woman pulled alive from the rubble early on Saturday. Kaag said she had apparently been on the second floor and was found in a "hopeful circumstance," calling out to rescuers despite her injuries after a dog located her.

Officials also reported no updates on the conditions of those taken to hospitals. Reading Hospital said it received 10 patients and transferred two to other facilities, while two others were admitted in good and fair condition respectively and the others had been discharged.

State and local fire investigators are continuing to examine the scene to try to determine the cause of the blast.

© AP 2023