Major football codes and gambling firms directly lobbied Albanese’s office on ad ban, documents show
GuardianOCT 2024
Report: Australian Politicians Took AU$245K in Tickets to Influence Gambling Ban
Above: Anthony Albanese speaks during the Labor Party federal election campaign launch in Perth on April 13, 2025. Image copyright: Matt Jelonek/Contributor/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
The Albanese government and politicians across the aisle are accepting gifts that create concerning conflicts of interest, prioritizing industry profits over public health, and ignoring overwhelming public support for reform and a parliamentary inquiry's recommendation for a comprehensive ban on gambling advertising.
Narrative B
The sporting codes protect their financial sustainability and the future of Australian sports, as gambling revenue represents their fastest-growing income stream and supports broadcast rights deals worth hundreds of millions of dollars. A blanket ban on gambling advertising online will destroy the industry.