Australia Edges Toward Gambling Deal With VIP Curbs in Focus
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Angus Taylor have held several discussions over the bill. The negotiations have narrowed the areas where changes appear possible, with neither side currently pushing for a blanket ban on gambling inducements or a full switch to opt-in online advertising.
That leaves a smaller group of amendments that could determine whether the Coalition backs the package.
VIP Offers Face Tighter Limits
High-value customers are one of the main areas under discussion. The Coalition has proposed restrictions on VIP incentives such as large bonus bets, event access and tickets offered to high-spending gamblers. Everyday promotions worth around A$25 are not the main target of the talks.
BetStop could also be affected. One proposal would introduce a cooling-off period after a person removes themselves from Australia’s national self-exclusion register. Betting companies would be prevented from immediately sending that customer new inducements.
The talks follow renewed scrutiny of how bookmakers manage VIP accounts. Evidence presented to a Senate inquiry raised questions over staff incentives and the treatment of high-spending customers.
A separate change could restrict commission arrangements where VIP account managers are rewarded according to customer losses. Sportsbet and Tabcorp had already stopped using that payment model before the current negotiations.
Streamers Could Get Another Compliance Option
Online advertising is another part of the proposed compromise. Labor’s bill currently uses a “triple lock” for digital platforms. Gambling ads can be shown where a user is logged in, confirmed as over 18 and has not chosen to opt out.
The Coalition has suggested another route for streaming services. Instead of using the triple lock, they could follow the stricter television rules. Those rules cap gambling advertising at three commercials per hour between 6am and 8:30pm. Ads are also banned during live sport within that period.
Coalition Approval Is Still Needed
Any agreement reached by Taylor and Albanese still has to go through the Coalition party room. Some Coalition MPs are also pushing for an independent review after the next election, leaving open the possibility of another round of changes later.
The timetable is tightening. Albanese indicated on Thursday that he expects the parliamentary debate over the reforms to reach a conclusion next week.
What Operators Could Face Next
The emerging deal is narrower than the full inducement ban sought by gambling harm advocates. For licensed wagering operators, that makes VIP retention practices the immediate pressure point. Mass-market promotions appear less exposed for now, while the final wording on streaming ads could determine how much operators need to change their digital campaigns.