Sports betting firms across Australia have offered to remove their logos from the front of National Rugby League (NRL) jerseys to preempt any potential legislative bans.
Michelle Rowland, Australia’s Communications Minister, is preparing to impose restrictions on TV, online and outdoor betting promotions after discussions with industry executives.
Steps to be taken
Around half of the NRL’s clubs have partnerships with sports betting firms but despite this intense presence, the industry has offered to cease advertising on football jerseys.
Additionally, it has also been proposed that gambling-based ads be removed around school pick-up times and the prohibition of promotions near schools, a practice already underway in the state of Victoria.
Government intervention
The government is currently considering a milder intervention in the form of limiting the volume and frequency of gambling ads and is hoping to garner the support of media companies and bookies.
One option being considered is limiting gambling ads to between one and three per hour on each television channel. This would then allow regulators to study how this could be additionally applied to streaming providers.
A government committee has previously recommended a complete ban on gambling advertising within three years, however, this broad suggestion amassed a great deal of criticism with many arguing that this would be damaging to sports and to businesses.
Despite this, the committee’s chair, Labor MP Peta Murphy remains steadfast in her claim that nothing short of a complete ban is required to tackle the issue.
Cross-purposes and conflicting interest
The Communications Minister is now facing great pressure concerning these issues as it has been reported that the MP’s personal re-election fund has received significant funds from an Australian industry leader in Sportsbet.
The government continues to address the committee’s recommendations but many still argue that it is moving at a pace far too slowly in order to address the policy issues concerned.
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