Albanese Moves Toward Tighter Gambling Rules as Senate Deal Takes Shape

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is moving toward tougher gambling restrictions after talks with Opposition Leader Angus Taylor, with a potential Senate deal now focused on betting inducements and new limits on gambling advertising.

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The negotiations in Canberra followed revelations that some high-value gamblers had been supplied with illegal drugs, sex workers and alcohol. The disclosures added pressure on the government as it tries to push gambling reforms through Parliament.

Labor is expected to seek Coalition backing for legislation that would restrict the incentives bookmakers use to encourage customers to keep betting. The proposed changes are aimed particularly at inducements that can draw gamblers back into repeated wagering.

Albanese has also indicated that advertising rules could be tightened, although the precise measures have not yet been made public. The government is presenting the package as a way to allow recreational betting while putting stronger controls around gambling-related harm.

The legislation could become one of the most significant gambling measures pursued by the Albanese government.

Greens Push for a Wider Advertising Ban

A Senate agreement with the Coalition may not end the political fight.

The Greens and several crossbench MPs want a much broader crackdown. Their preferred approach includes a phased ban on gambling advertising rather than narrower restrictions negotiated as part of the government’s compromise.

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That distinction matters because online and streaming services could leave room for advertising to continue even if some traditional forms of promotion are restricted.

Research cited in the debate estimates that more than 3.3 million Australians have experienced gambling-related harm.

There is also a financial dimension to the industry’s reach. A separate study published this week found that Australian retirement funds have more than €9.2 billion, or about $10 billion, invested in gambling companies. Those holdings represent roughly 1% of the funds’ total assets.

The government now faces a narrower political calculation: secure enough support to pass the legislation while deciding how far the new advertising restrictions should go. The final shape of the bill will determine whether the proposed compromise amounts to a significant tightening of gambling rules or falls short of the broader reforms demanded by the Greens and crossbench.

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Source: igamingexpress.com