Australian Politicians Received $147K in Sports Tickets Amid Anti-Gambling Ad Lobbying

Australian lawmakers were gifted approximately A$245,000 (US$147,000) worth of sports tickets over 21 months by the country’s top sporting leagues, as part of an effort to lobby against a proposed ban on online gambling advertising. According to data from the parliamentary gift register analyzed by Reuters, 312 tickets were distributed between June 2023 and March 2025, coinciding with the period following a government report recommending a comprehensive advertising ban.

The tickets were mainly for premium events like AFL and NRL grand finals. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese received tickets valued at A$29,000, while opposition leader Peter Dutton received A$21,350 worth. The gifting coincided with lobbying campaigns by sporting bodies through the Coalition of Major Professional and Participation Sports (COMPPS), which targeted influential politicians and placed them near executives briefed to oppose the ban.

Australia, which records the highest per capita gambling losses globally, is projected to see losses hit A$34 billion in 2025. Sporting bodies such as the NRL rely heavily on gambling-linked revenue, including a percentage of betting turnover (around A$70 million annually) and sports betting ads, which contribute significantly to its A$400 million broadcast revenue.

Despite overwhelming public support for a ban, Albanese removed the measure from the legislative agenda ahead of the upcoming May 3 general election. Experts argue the gifts served as “soft diplomacy,” giving sports leagues prolonged access to key political figures during games. Public health advocates called the tactic deeply concerning, suggesting it played a major role in delaying regulatory reform on gambling ads. Neither the AFL nor Albanese’s office provided detailed responses to requests for comment, while the NRL declined to respond.