7am Is this why we still haven’t seen gambling reform?
Jan 31, 2026
Jason Koutsoukis, special correspondent for The Saturday Paper, breaks down why gambling advertising reform keeps stalling. He traces the powerful personal ties between Anthony Albanese and Peter V'Landys and how they shaped policy access. The conversation covers committee recommendations, political compromises, industry pushback, and the high-stakes choices facing the prime minister.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Albanese’s Close Ties With Peter V'landys
- Anthony Albanese has a long personal relationship with Peter V'landys and brought him to a White House state dinner with Joe Biden.
- That friendship included collaboration on NRL expansion and federal funding for Leichhardt Oval upgrades.
Sporting Codes Trump Media Influence
- V'landys is the single most influential voice shaping the Prime Minister's view on a gambling ad ban, ahead of media owners.
- Sporting codes' opinions matter more to Albanese than major media or industry players in this debate.
Opposition Pre-Empts Inquiry With Ad Ban Pledge
- Peter Dutton pre-empted a parliamentary inquiry by promising a ban on betting ads during games and an hour before and after.
- That pledge forced the timing of debate and prompted the government to promise to wait for the Murphy inquiry's findings.