A plan by Australia to ban gambling ads during sports broadcasts is drawing opposition from sports bodies in the country, but not from Aussie bookmakers.
According to Casino.org, sports bodies in Australia are concerned the ban will hurt smaller, grassroots teams and deprive them of revenue.
The country currently bans gambling ads during “children’s hours” and wagering ads on TV are restricted to 10 percent of advertising content during a match. The new ban would impose a “siren to siren” ban during sports telecasts.
Malcolm Speed, the executive director of the Coalition of Major Professional and Participation Sports, which represents all of Australia’s major bodies, said he is opposed to the ban.
“We don’t support a ban on sports betting advertising, on the basis that it is likely to impact on media rights deals or the value of media rights, which is the sports’ greatest asset,” he told the Australian newspaper. “We operate in a highly regulated system, where there are limits on placement of sports betting advertising. The sports have co-operated with broadcasters and the government to ban live odds during matches. So any restriction or prohibition will inevitably result in lowering investment in community and participation programs, and grassroots development.”
The country’s TV stations also oppose the ban as ad revenue from sports wagering ads equals about $179 million a year. The Australian reports that the government will try to offset those losses by lowering licensing fees.
However, most of the country’s bookmakers appear to support the ban. According to Casino.org, Tabcorp is backing the ban, as is industry lobby group, Responsible Wagering Australia, which is backed by bookmakers like bet365, Betfair, CrownBet, Sportsbet and Unibet.
“We have long shared the community’s view that there is too much gambling advertising,” said RWA spokesman and chief executive, Stephen Conroy in a press statement. “RWA welcomes government consultation with the wagering industry, community groups, sporting organizations and broadcasters to achieve meaningful reductions in wagering advertising.”
