Australia’s two major political parties have moved closer to reaching a compromise on proposed gaming advertising reforms following a second round of talks between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Angus Taylor.

The discussions center on the Interactive Gaming Amendment (Gaming Reform) Bill 2026, which was introduced to Parliament on July 2 alongside amendments relating to the National Self-exclusion Register.

Rather than pursuing a major rewrite of the legislation, negotiations are focusing on several specific areas, including VIP incentives offered to high-value customers, protections for individuals leaving the national BetStop self-exclusion register, and rules governing online advertising.

One proposal from the Coalition would place tighter restrictions on high-value VIP incentives, including exclusive event access, game-day tickets and large promotional packages, while leaving smaller mass-market promotions largely unaffected.

The opposition has also proposed introducing a cooling-off period that would prevent operators from immediately sending promotional incentives to customers after they leave the BetStop register.

Online advertising is another key area under discussion. One proposal would allow streaming platforms to follow a “triple-lock” model, under which promotional content would be limited to logged-in users who are over 18 and have not opted out. Alternatively, platforms could follow the stricter advertising requirements applied to television.

Under the bill as currently proposed, free-to-air television would be limited to three relevant advertisements per hour between 6:00 a.m. and 8:30 p.m., with such promotions prohibited during live sports broadcasts within that period. The framework would also introduce restrictions covering sporting venues, uniforms and digital channels.

The reforms are currently being examined by the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, which is expected to report on August 17.

If approved, the new framework is scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2027. The ongoing negotiations indicate that VIP incentives, digital advertising and consumer safeguards are emerging as key priorities as Australia moves toward the next stage of its gaming advertising reforms.