Every Wednesday morning during sitting weeks, politicians, staffers, public servants and journalists gather for a friendly game of sport. It’s meant to be casual, even wholesome. 

But recently, that club, the Parliament Sports Club, quietly re-registered as a lobbying organisation. Its board includes the Prime Minister. Its members include representatives from the major sporting codes – and one of its sponsors is the gambling lobby.

All of this is happening while the government sits on a report that recommended a comprehensive ban on gambling ads; a ban that experts say is urgently needed to protect families and communities from the harms of gambling. 

Today, media reporter for Crikey Daanyal Saeed, on how a casual sporting meet up became a vehicle for lobbyists, and what it tells us about the gambling industry’s grip on politics. 

You can read Daany’s reporting here: https://www.crikey.com.au/2025/09/30/parliament-sports-club-gambling-lobby/
 

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Guest: Crikey’s media reporter Daanyal Saeed