As gambling reforms face pressure from all sides, will Labor hold ’em, fold ’em or walk away?

Communications minister Anika Wells (left) said Anthony Albanese’s threat to walk away from Labor’s gambling reforms entirely were ‘some weeks ago now’, and she had had ‘constructive discussions’ with the Coalition and Greens. Photograph: Lukas Coch/EPA

A wise philosopher once said: “You’ve got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em, know when to walk away, know when to run.”

Going into the spring parliamentary session after the long winter break, the Albanese government is far from walking away or running from its wagering reforms – but after developments on Sunday that it was now open to amendments on gambling inducements, it might be thinking about folding after earlier committing to holding.