Sports Betting Ads in Australia may be Banned

Sports betting ads in Australia can be banned in the future after the Green Party’s senator introduced a proposal regarding betting restrictions. The senator, Richard Di Natale, is well known for his anti-gambling views. He urged the party about sports betting ads in Australia should be treated just like smoking ads.

The senator compared sports betting to smoking in a report by saying that sports betting, like tobacco, is an adult product. Therefore, it needs to be treated accordingly. He added, adults have the right to take bets. However, as he expressed ‘watching a game of footy shouldn’t be like walking into a casino’. Furthermore, the new bill would not only ban promoting ads, but also companies from sponsoring teams.

In 1992, the Green Party managed to ban smoking ads in the same way. Moreover, back in 2013 the on-air promotions of odds during broadcast has also been banned. In spite of these facts, it seems this field is not safe enough for the Green Party representatives who say ads have a big influence on children.

These views –  regarding the safety of children  – were justified by Samantha Thomas, the Associate Professor of Public Health at Deakin University. She also emphasizes the significance amount of how much kids know the major gambling brands. 

The AWC’s Reaction About the Future of Sports Betting Ads In Australia

The Australian Wagering Council (AWC), representative authority of the major operators labelled the whole concept as a political gesture. They emphasized the importance of a mature and rational debate in this question including both, ads and promotion regulations.

As the Chief Executive of the council, Ian Fletcher noted, comparing the two, sports betting and ‘cancer causing products’ are not beneficial at all. He furthered his claim stating that this attitude will result in more conflicts between the industry and politicians instead of further discussion. At the same time, it will have negative impacts on the racing related commerce.