Labor's betting laws were among a handful of major policy stalemates that appeared on their way to being resolved as federal parliament returned to Canberra on Tuesday after a five-week winter hiatus.
Under the changes, betting ads would be limited to three per hour between 6am and 8.30pm and gambling ads would be banned from live sport, stadiums and player jerseys.
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor was negotiating with the prime minister on Tuesday over proposed changes that would make it harder for betting firms to offer inducements to gamblers, though the likely amendments were more limited than some backbenchers had anticipated.
The federal government suggests a resolution with the coalition about the controversial changes are not far off, but behind closed doors, opposition members seem less sure.
Nine backbenchers spoke in a joint party room of Liberal and National MPs. Of those, five spoke in favour of toughening the gambling rules as proposed by Labor.
They were understood to have raised concerns about gambling addiction and the effects of advertising on children.
The remaining four who spoke noted a need to get the balance right, raising concerns about potential over-regulation of the industry, which could push gambling underground.
While Mr Taylor is expected to present the amendments to his party room in the next sitting week, the government is continuing to discuss desired changes with the Greens in a sign a deal with the opposition is far from done.
The progressive party wants stronger reforms including a complete ban on betting advertising, and has expressed concern that Labor was being lobbied by gambling companies.
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher told ABC Radio National she accepted the long-anticipated gambling advertising laws were "not where everyone wanted to be".
"We'll see where that lands," Senator Gallagher said when asked about the leaders' talk, after strong calls from anti-gambling advocates for a full ban on all betting ads.
''We have already, outside of this legislation, introduced a number of stronger measures around gambling, gambling advertising, and some of the support infrastructure to help with reduce the harm of problem gambling.''
Independent MP Kate Chaney said the gambling ad changes were lacklustre and failed to protect Australian children.
"We need to be really clear that we are fiddling around the edges of a deeply flawed bill," Ms Chaney told AAP.
"This is a case study in everything that frustrates the Australian public about our political system.''
Separately, the major parties have agreed to get changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme and the news media bargaining incentive through the Senate as part of a swathe of laws they hope to deal with in the first sitting fortnight back.
Peak disability groups warned people will die under the proposed NDIS changes, designed by the government to curb billions in annual spending and alleged fraudulent activity with the scheme.
Parliament's return comes after the prime minister addressed the Labor caucus on Monday, flagging more reform on the horizon.
"The legislation that we will be having in this second half of the year will set us up to go into 2027 even stronger," Mr Albanese said.
"I hope you all took the advice and did have a few days off during the break, but now it's back to work."
The extension of a 15 per cent pay rise for early education and care workers first announced in June is due to be introduced to parliament, as well as legislation to increase the passenger movement charge which will bump up the cost of international travel from Australia by $10.
One Nation's first successfully elected lower house MP David Farley will also deliver his first speech to parliament on Tuesday afternoon.
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