Afternoon Update: betting giants deny drug and sex worker allegations at inquiry; Alan Jones trial continues; and going down with the ship

Responsible Wagering Australia’s Kai Cantwell, Sportsbet’s Jules Norton Selzer and Tabcorp’s Julian Whealing at the Senate committee inquiry. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Good afternoon. The parliamentary inquiry into Labor’s gambling legislation heard extraordinary testimony yesterday from anti-gambling campaigners Tim Costello and Luke Bateman, who alleged that problem gamblers had been supplied with cocaine, alcohol and sex workers. Giving evidence today, betting giants Sportsbet and Tabcorp said there is no evidence to substantiate the allegations.

Later in the hearing, the independent senator David Pocock asked the industry’s lobby group, Responsible Wagering Australia, about one betting platform’s promotion which featured children. Pocock claimed the gambling industry always blamed others for children’s exposure to gambling ads, and said: “This is exactly why Australians are sick and tired of the BS you try and tell us.”