PM is taking a big punt on gambling ads. It may be a losing ticket

July 3, 2026 — 5:00am

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Labor is trying to please everyone with its proposed gambling reforms. But the government’s middle path approach, giving all parties at least some of what they want – as is so often Anthony Albanese’s preferred route – is not working at the moment, and the government is pleasing no one.

The blockage to more sweeping reforms to gambling advertising, as recommended in the committee report You win some, you lose more led by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy, starts right at the top of government.

The gambling industry, sporting codes and broadcast networks are all dependent on revenue from gambling and, mindful of this, the government did not to respond to the 31 unanimous recommendations in the Murphy report for nearly three years as it grappled with how to please all sides of this debate.

At the halfway point of 2026, the prime minister should be quietly pleased the government’s changes to capital gains tax and negative gearing have been passed – despite the furore in parliament and the warnings of doom for the property market. The Coalition’s ongoing dire position in the polls would be welcome, too.

But with the Coalition and Greens MPs poised to team up and trigger another inquiry into the proposed laws, and with crossbench MPs screaming blue murder, gambling advertising has been thrust back into the centre of public debate, reminding ordinary voters – who generally hate gambling advertising – that the prime minister may be out of step with........

© The Age