Alliance calls for ban on gambling industry political donations

The Alliance for Gambling Reform is calling for a complete ban on political donations from the gaming industry, after recent disclosures revealed more than A$1.5 million was donated to major political parties in 2016/17, local media reports.

According to analysis by the AGR, in 2016/17, there were 20 seperate gambling industry donations to the federal Labor Party, totalling $330, 650, while the Coalition received almost $1 million in donations.

Crown Resorts, Tabcorp, Clubs NSW, Clubs Australia and the Australian Hotels Association were revealed as major gambling donors.

Tim Costello, director of the Alliance, said that gambling harm will continue in Australia until the “political funding tap is completely turned off”.

Costello added that there is a good chance that the reported numbers are understated, with current rules stating that only donations over $13,200 need to be disclosed.

Costello also said that a large amount of the donations were focused in NSW, calling the state the most "pokies-captured jurisdiction.”

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