Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and opposition leader Angus Taylor have once again reunited for their second meeting in two days on Tuesday, August 11, amid ongoing talks about changes to proposed online gambling reforms.
According to ABC reporting, the fresh talks focused on VIP inducements for high-value gamblers, protections for people leaving the national self-exclusion register, and online gambling advertising rules.
The Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026, currently under discussion, was originally introduced on July 2 along with a number of changes to the National Self-exclusion Register.
The Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee is due to report on the bills on August 17, with the reforms scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027, if passed.
What Could Change
The current proposal wants to limit gambling advertisements on free-to-air television to three per hour between 6 am and 8:30 pm, with gambling ads also prohibited during live sporting broadcasts during the same hours.
Online advertising would also be restricted to logged-in and verified adults, while gambling advertising on sports uniforms and stadiums would no longer be allowed.
The negotiations are not expected to produce a full rewrite of the legislation, as the Coalition is looking for targeted changes on the way operators can provide incentives to VIP customers.
Among the proposals is a focus on high-value inducements such as exclusive event access, game-day tickets and substantial bonus-bet offers. At the same time, smaller mass-market promotions could still be allowed.
The opposition has also reportedly asked for a cooling-off period that would stop gambling companies from immediately targeting customers once they exit the BetStop self-exclusion register.
Shocking Testimony
The talks come after a Senate inquiry heard testimony about the treatment of VIP gamblers.
Former NRL player Luke Bateman told senators that he had allegedly been offered free interstate travel, race-day hospitality and illegal drugs by a wagering company’s VIP account manager while he was experiencing significant gambling losses.
The proposed legislation faces opposition from several sides, including the Greens, who keep supporting a full ban on online gambling ads, and some crossbench senators, who are calling for much stronger restrictions.