Anthony Albanese urges gambling inducement crackdown as government, Coalition near betting reform deal
The prime minister has urged for a curtailing of inducements that keep people gambling online, arguing it feeds addictions.
Inducements from gambling companies to keep people having a punt are excessive and should be stopped, the Prime Minister says.
As the Federal Government and Coalition edge closer to a deal on betting reform, Anthony Albanese said measures needed to be put in place to tackle gambling addiction.
The Prime Minister said he was confident of the reforms being able to pass parliament in the coming week.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“(Inducements) are over the top and they need to be wound back. In particular, some of the inducements that will encourage people into the system are just not on,” he told reporters in Canberra on Friday.
“The problem is addiction, and when someone has an addiction, if there are inducements that are encouraging that addiction, that’s a bad thing.”
The comments followed a Senate inquiry which heard gambling companies plied customers with drugs and sex workers to keep on the platform.
The sites, such as Sportsbet and Tabcorp, have denied the allegations.
Labor is attempting pass reforms through parliament which would ban gambling ads between 6am and 8.30pm, as well as stop the ads in stadiums, on player jersey and during live sport broadcasts.
However, it has come under fire for not implementing a full ban, as recommended by late Labor MP Peta Murphy in a landmark report handed down in 2023.
Labor would need the support of either the Greens or coalition to get the changes through the Senate.
Any deal on the reforms is likely to be announced after a Senate inquiry report into the reforms is handed down on Monday.
A vote on the reforms is then set to be held in the lower house on Tuesday, with a deal more likely to be reached with the coalition.
Mr Albanese said talks on the issue had been constructive.
“We will also look in the amendments that we’re considering, and we’ll go through our process respectfully in our caucus, as will other parties,” he said.
“There’s nothing wrong with people having a punt on a Saturday, there’s nothing wrong with people having a beer after work. The problem is if it’s an addiction.”
