The CBD column in the Sydney Morning Herald noted that Dan Repacholi attended Canberra’s 2026 Midwinter Ball as guests of Sportsbet.
Dan is Labor’s member for Hunter in NSW, and the latest Labor MP “ who has been doing the gambling industry kowtowing.”
The SMH was stunned by this “perception of gambling industry bootlicking” and “witlessness”.
Dan didn’t answer SMH questions about why “he had accepted Sportsbet’s hospitality, or whether the government’s proposed gambling ad reforms were discussed over dinner”.
As the newspaper notes, “Sportsbet’s hospitality has long proved irresistible to members of the Albanese government”, with Michelle Rowland, then communications minister, accepting $19,000 in donations from them before the 2022 election.
Dan and Michelle obviously don’t know the amount of greyhound suffering that is caused by the global gambling machine. So let’s hope they pay attention to this:
Sportsbet is the exclusive gambling partner for Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV). Victoria has the deadliest tracks in the country.
GRV’s FY25 annual report revealed a total of 90 racing deaths on Sportsbet tracks, with 3,395 injuries. 663 of these injuries were in the worst category, Category D.
In 2026, Victoria is again leading the national death toll, with almost 40 racing deaths so far.
We hope that Dan thinks twice about endorsing Sportsbet in future. And that he learns something about true mateship – anyone who loves our best friend will not support a dog-killing industry.
Image shows Slick Nick suffering a foreleg fracture at Bendigo, prior to euthanasia.