Australia (Common Wealth) _As the country grapples with a crisis endangering the financial and emotional health of many Australians, the federal government is being pushed to outlaw gambling advertising during sporting events within three years.
The conclusions of a parliamentary committee’s probe into the harm caused by online gambling have been disclosed, with 31 suggestions on how the sector should be regulated and how Australians battling with addiction should be assisted.
Among them is a plan for a three-year gradual ban on all advertising leading gamblers to websites and apps to place bets, as well as more federal monitoring of the industry.
People don’t like it because they feel bombarded with advertising, and they are concerned that youngsters are constantly exposed to advertisements for sports betting, according to committee head and Labor MP Peta Murphy.
There is concern that we are generating, if not already producing, another generation of Australians who see sport and betting as inextricably intertwined, and sport practically as a vehicle for betting.
Ms Murphy claimed that Australians were among the world’s largest gambling losers, and that prior attempts to restrict gambling advertising had failed to solve the issue.
Australians, on average, gamble 20% more online than any other country. Currently, gambling commercials cannot be aired within 5 minutes of the start or end of a sporting event.
There are certain exceptions, such as during breaks in long-form games like cricket and tennis matches – but only after 8:30 p.m.
During those times, betting companies may have a representative promote betting odds, as long as they are not at the sporting venue where the event is taking place and are clearly identifiable as not being members of the event commentary team.
Ms Murphy stated that phasing out gambling advertising gradually will assist broadcasters and athletic codes in finding substitute revenue streams, as well as give betting companies time to acclimate to new rules.
She added, “We did hear evidence from the AFL and the NRL in particular about their reliance on sponsorship deals with betting companies.”
That is why we have advocated for a phased approach, because we know, as happened when cigarette advertising was outlawed, that there are steps that must be taken and mitigation must be devised.
But, in the end, the committee agreed that this is a public health issue that must be addressed. A gradual approach, according to Peta Murphy, would give sports and broadcasters time to locate alternative advertising.
