Sport, gambling and tobacco – how lobbyists influnce our pollies

The Alliance for Gambling Reform has revealed through its new database 19 politicians received gifts from betting companies over the past few years – including some very good tickets to sporting events.

Lobbyists speaking with the Federal Government and giving MPs gifts is nothing new, but everyday Australians might be surprised by how powerful these groups are. 

In this episode of the Briefing Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by the AFG’s chief advocate Tim Costello to explain what is happening behind closed doors and just how powerful Australia’s gambling industry is. 

He explained betting companies will give Pollies tickets to the nations most watched games of the year – which can only help the recipients politically. 

“If Australians love one thing, it’s sport. And if you’re seen with sporting success at AFL Grand Final, NRL Grand Final, they’re always there at the breakfast, they’re always making Prime Minister, Opposition Leader speeches, they’re photographed with the presidents and often the players. Australians go, “Well, that politician understands me because I love sport.”

 But it’s everyday Australians, Costello says, who are the losers here.

“Australians lose the greatest amount per capita (from gambling) in the world now up at $32 billion,”Tim Costello explained. 

 If America’s blind spot is guns…ours is gambling…When they’re on every fifth block and totally accessible, that’s one of the reasons we have the greatest losses in the world. And then when it comes to sports betting ads, a million a year on free to air TV. That’s unheard of in any other countries. European countries have banned all ads altogether.”

While there’s a broader picture, he says stricter regulations for lobbyists are vital for Australia. 

“I think what we forget is politics is really about power. Who has it? Who gets what they want and who doesn’t have it, and who misses out. And it’s not a level playing field when those with powerful commercial vested interests with hundreds of millions of dollars to spend on lobbying are up against, say, in our case, the Alliance for Gambling Reform, which is fighting for people who had harm from gambling. We have five staff. We’re up against a multi-billion dollar industry.” 

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