Federal Government steps in to ban betting odds adverts during live sport
The Federal Government has issued a strongly worded intervention in a bid to clamp down on advertisers promoting betting odds during live sports events.
The Government has pledged action during this Parliament
It has said that the practice will be banned under new rules being fast tracked during the current Parliament in the event that broadcasters do not submit a revised code to the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
“Should the industry elect not to do this, the Government will fast-track legislation to enshrine these standards in this term of Parliament,” the Government warned.
“The public have had enough of odds and betting promotions being shoved down their throats while listening to and watching sport,” it said in a statement.
“Younger Australians, in particular, should continue to talk about which is the best football team, best netball team, or best rugby team, not which team is at the shortest odds to win a game.
“These measures ensure that the watching of sport and the promotion of gambling is kept separate.”
It said that the Government is demanding that Australia's broadcasters amend their broadcasting codes in the following terms, outlined in its statement:
• All promotion of betting odds on broadcast media will be prohibited during live sports matches. This includes by gambling companies and commentators.
• All generic gambling broadcast advertisements will be banned during play. Advertisements of this sort would only be allowed before or after a game; or during a scheduled break in play, such as quarter-time and half-time.
• Banner adverts, sponsorship logos, and other broadcast promotions must not appear during play.
• When crossed to, representatives of gambling companies must not be at or around the venue. They also must not appear with the commentary team at any time and must be clearly identified as a gambling representative.
• The Government will monitor the intensity of generic gambling advertisements within the allowed periods. If it is found to go beyond reasonable levels, the Government will impose a total advertising ban.
A petition by Matthew Cowden on the change.org website calling for a ban “on this iniquitous practice, that can and will be enforced”, reached 50,000 signatures on 23 May, and at the time of writing has attracted 61,339 at the time of publication.