MPs Accept Free Sports Tickets from Gambling Firms Amid Reform Calls
At least six federal Labor and Liberal politicians, including an assistant minister and multiple shadow ministers, have disclosed accepting free tickets to high-profile sporting events from major gambling companies over the past six months. This comes as the government faces increasing pressure to restrict wagering advertisements and implement stronger regulations within the sector.
Declarations in Register of Interests
Politicians are legally required to declare any gifts or hospitality received, such as complimentary tickets to major events, in their parliamentary register of interests, which is publicly accessible online. Dozens of federal parliamentarians have reported receiving free tickets to significant summer events, including the Ashes cricket series, the Australian Open tennis tournament, and various large concerts.
Gambling companies have been identified as providers of hospitality to 19 Australian politicians for major sports events. More than 30 politicians have declared free tickets for cricket matches during the Australia versus England Ashes series this summer, while at least 10 have reported receiving complimentary tickets to the Australian Open from various sources.
Specific Disclosures from Gambling Companies
Anthony Chisholm, the Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Agriculture, has declared twice in recent months that he accepted tickets and hospitality from Tabcorp for major horse race meetings in Victoria and Queensland. Sportsbet, Australia's largest online bookmaker, provided tickets to rugby union matches, the Australian Open, or race meetings to Labor MPs Raff Ciccone and Dan Repacholi, Coalition shadow ministers Dan Tehan and Tim Wilson, and Liberal MP Mary Aldred.
Chisholm detailed that Tabcorp supplied him with four tickets and hospitality on two occasions: once in November at Melbourne's Derby Day at Flemington Racecourse, and again in January at the Gold Coast's Magic Millions Race Day.
Sportsbet was listed as the provider of free tickets to five politicians recently. Tim Wilson, the new Shadow Treasurer, disclosed that the betting group provided "attendance at Caulfield Guineas" race meeting for himself and his spouse in Melbourne during November. Dan Tehan, the Shadow Energy Minister, reported that Sportsbet gave "attendance for self and two guests" at the Australian Open men's semi-final in January. Mary Aldred declared that Sportsbet provided her with two tickets to the same tennis semi-final.
Raff Ciccone, the Victorian Senator and Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, stated he was a guest of Sportsbet at the Australian Open in January, with the agency offering "2 x ticket and hospitality." Dan Repacholi, the Special Envoy on Men's Health, declared receiving four tickets and hospitality from Sportsbet to attend the Wallabies' rugby union match against the British and Irish Lions in Sydney last August.
Responses and Criticisms
In a statement, a Sportsbet spokesperson said the company makes "significant contributions" to sports and racing, including through tax payments and fees. The company advocates for "meaningful, measured reform" in advertising, such as frequency caps and bans on ads in stadiums or on playing jerseys, noting it has reduced its own television advertising. The spokesperson added, "From time to time, like many businesses we host stakeholders including elected representatives and their staff at major sporting and racing events."
Tabcorp and the politicians mentioned have been contacted for comment. Dan Tehan explained he was "officially invited" to the tennis due to his role co-chairing the Parliamentary Friends of Thoroughbred Racing group.
Kate Chaney, an independent MP advocating for gambling reforms, criticized politicians for accepting tickets from wagering companies. She stated, "Sure, technically no rules have been broken, and these gifts have been declared. But it stinks. Australians can see right through it – they want gambling reform but instead they get gambling companies wining and dining leaders at expensive sports events. Party politicians who accept 'hospitality' from these companies need to wake up and stop pretending that gambling companies give away free tickets to politicians because they're nice guys."
Broader Context and Other Disclosures
The federal government is under mounting pressure, including from within its own partyroom, to outline its long-discussed gambling reforms and finalize its delayed response to the parliamentary report chaired by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy, which recommended a ban on wagering ads.
In other recent disclosures, numerous Labor MPs received cricket tickets, including Ali France, David Moncrieff, Zhi Soon, Kara Cook, and Varun Ghosh; Labor assistant ministers Ged Kearney, Matt Thistlethwaite, and Anthony Chisholm; as well as Coalition members Zoe McKenzie, Ben Small, Matt Canavan, Aaron Violi, Andrew Willcox, Jason Wood, Pat Conaghan, and James McGrath. All these tickets were provided by Cricket Australia. Minister Murray Watt declared tickets to two days of the Brisbane Test, one day from Cricket Australia and another from lobbying firm Anacta.
Former opposition leader Sussan Ley declared tickets for the Sydney "pink" Test, where she attended the charity high tea for the McGrath Foundation, as did Health Minister Mark Butler on behalf of the government.
Regarding the Australian Open, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Labor assistant ministers Peter Khalil and Julian Hill, and Nationals MPs Bridget McKenzie and Sam Birrell declared receiving tickets from Tennis Australia; independent MP Andrew Gee declared tickets from Emirates; while Ged Kearney declared two tickets from liquor group Asahi. Julian Hill reported tickets and hospitality for himself and his spouse to the men's semi-final; Peter Khalil disclosed "2 tickets to The 'O'," the VIP lounge at the tournament, valued at approximately $1,200 per person.
In tennis-related disclosures, Labor minister Josh Wilson declared two tickets to Perth's United Cup Tennis from Tennis Australia; colleague Tim Watts declared "2 x tickets to tennis match and hospitality" from both Tennis Australia and Nine Entertainment Co; and Liberal MP Henry Pike declared tickets and hospitality to the Brisbane International.
Anthony Albanese in November declared tickets to Oasis from Venues NSW. Ged Kearney also declared two tickets to Oasis, priced at $183 each, courtesy of AFL House.
