Labor MPs are pushing for Anthony Albanese to significantly strengthen the plan to curb online gambling advertising, after sensational evidence about betting companies providing problem gamblers with illicit drugs and access to sex workers sparked a bipartisan backlash.The government’s plan to limit advertising and boost the existing self-exclusion register already faces a tough road through the Senate, with Coalition MPs urging opposition leader Angus Taylor to propose a much tougher crackdown. The Greens have dismissed Labor’s legislation as ineffective.Labor MP Louise Miller-Frost told Guardian Australia she would push for action.“Some of the evidence that’s coming out now is very compelling,” the Boothby MP said. “I am shocked.”Miller-Frost was part of the parliamentary inquiry chaired by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy which recommended a phased-in full ban on gambling advertising.“They are targeting a population that is known to be vulnerable, they are self-identified vulnerable population that tried to self-exclude,” Miller-Frost said.“The evidence that’s come out around escorts and drugs is a whole other level of predatory behaviour.”Labor MP Alicia Payne agreed.“Our legislation is a significant step in the right direction. I think and hope we will go further,” she said. “The evidence is deeply concerning, especially as anyone who has opened a sports betting app knows that inducements to bet more started straight away.”Sign up for the Breaking News Australia emailInternally, some Labor MPs say they feel emboldened by recent changes to the ALP national platform and the backlash against evidence from gambling giants Sportsbet and Tabcorp this week.Several Labor MPs acknowledged the government would need to do more, with one calling the revelations “obviously disgusting”.“We already know there’s more work to do over time and this [committee] will highlight that … It’s good that this has come out.”Another Labor MP, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said they believed the inquiry would convince the cabinet to go further with reforms.“The best thing is to watch the evidence play out and I think that will be enough pressure to get some change, because it’s pretty damning.”Liberal Simon Kennedy, who has publicly called for stronger reforms, said the inquiry was embarrassing the government.He has pushed internally for a crackdown on gambling inducements and suggested online gambling ads should be opt-in rather than opt-out on streaming services.“They have been embarrassed by this two-day inquiry and I think it’s now clear that something has gone badly wrong in the design of this legislation and they will have to strengthen it.”Kennedy said he had confidence in Taylor and the shadow communications minister, Sarah Henderson, would force Labor to deliver strengthened laws.skip past newsletter promotionafter newsletter promotionAnother Liberal said Henderson needed to ensure the Coalition’s final position reflected the “strong anger” within the opposition and being felt by families.Anti-gambling campaigners Tim Costello and Luke Bateman alleged problem gamblers had been supplied with cocaine, alcohol and sex workers in evidence to the committee.Bateman, an ex-NRL player and TikTok influencer, told the inquiry he attended a private Gold Coast event hosted by a gambling company at which senior figures took illicit drugs with clients.Kennedy also questioned how Labor was not aware of the impact of high level VIP inducements that Bateman revealed to the Senate.“Either the PM or the communications minister knew about this behaviour and ignored it, or they didn’t even consult with people who were under VIP managers,” Kennedy said.Jules Norton Selzer, Sportsbet’s corporate affairs director, said the company had “zero evidence of the allegations”, while Tabcorp’s head of government affairs, Julian Whealing, said drugs and sex workers were not “part of Tabcorp’s customer offering”.ACT independent David Pocock raised a constituent’s complaint about gambling ads playing between Disney songs on a music streaming app.“This is exactly why Australians are sick and tired of the BS you try and tell us,” Pocock said.Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young called on Albanese to listen to public anger.“I urge the prime minister: read the room. Read the room. Australians want proper protections in our laws against the predatory nature of these companies,” she said.