Eight gambling companies related to horse racing donated $2.7 million to major political parties in the past decade, an increase of over 600 percent, according to pay per head reviews and news sites. The report came as debate on implementing a total ban on gambling ads continues in Canberra.
According to data analyzed by the legislative library and disclosed to the Australian Electoral Commission, the largest gambling corporations participating in horse betting have raised their donations to the major parties from $66,650 in 2013–14 to $488,000 in 2022–23, a 632% gain.
Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi said the findings had led her to accuse the Coalition and Labor of being involved in gambling-fueled animal cruelty leading up to the Melbourne Cup and of using blood money contributions to line their wallets.
Political Donations from Gambling Companies Related to Horse Racing
Donations from the gaming industry reached a record high of $561,195 in 2021–22, according to Handicappers Hideaway sources, which first crossed $100,000 in 2015–16. Eight businesses contributed $2.7 million to the two main parties last decade. The total amount distributed is $1.49 million to Labor, $952,500 to the Liberals, and $263,300 to the Nationals.
With a combined contribution of $1.02 million, Tabcorp was the period’s most significant donor to Labor and the Coalition. Since 2013–14, Sportsbet has contributed $823,050, and since 2020–21, they have provided over $600,000.
After the Australian Wagering Council was abolished in 2016, Responsible Wagering Australia (RWA) was founded. In seven years, RWA donated $651,320 to the main parties. The donations were equally distributed: $344,500 went to the Liberals and Nationals, and $306,820 went to Labor.
In the subsequent fiscal year, any contributions submitted to the federal electoral authority exceeding the disclosure level are publicly available. As part of its election reforms, the Albanese government has vowed to decrease the disclosure threshold, curb spending and donations, and other measures. Still, they have not yet garnered bipartisan support.
Businesses can also contribute to political campaigns by purchasing tickets to attend ticketed business forums or participating in observer programs. According to a representative from Sportsbet, the company is only one of hundreds that have participated in government discussions via business forums.
Gambling Industry in Australia
In 2022–23, the Australian government expects gambling losses to reach $32 billion, up from $25.6 billion in the pre–COVID era, according to statistics given in September by the Queensland government.
The 164th running of the Melbourne Cup will occur on Tuesday, and several prominent federal lawmakers will likely attend. However, the event’s attendance has declined for a while now. Compared to a poll conducted before the 2022 race, just 11% of respondents in the 2023 Essential survey expressed a strong interest in the Melbourne Cup.
To combat gambling’s evils and horse racing’s brutality, Faruqi argued that the main parties should cut off all funding to gambling organizations. According to a representative, Sportsbet, with its regulatory involvement and collaborations with racing authorities, ensures that racing may be enjoyed responsibly for years.
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