NRL, AFL on collision course with governments over betting ads

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rj90

Yeah, Nah.
Tipping Member

NRL, AFL on collision course with governments over betting ads


The NRL, AFL and other major sports are on a collision course with governments over tighter rules on sports betting advertising, prompting the head of a parliamentary inquiry to say the codes are failing to grasp the concerns of the public and experts.

The sporting bodies say bookmakers’ ad spending – which grew from $89.7 million in 2011 to $287.2 million in 2021 – boosts the value of TV rights deals that help fund grassroots sport.

But Labor MP Peta Murphy, chair of a parliamentary inquiry into societal damage caused by online betting, said parliamentarians were inundated with complaints from citizens frustrated by betting ads, paving the way for the committee to recommend tighter rules.
Government sources said the committee’s recommendations, to be delivered by mid-year, would inform federal government gambling reforms expected later this term, although the details and scope of these changes remain unclear.

“As members of parliament, we hear over and over again the community’s concern about the proliferation, on TV and online, of sports betting ads,” Murphy said in an interview ahead of the resumption of public hearings this week.

“The sports codes should read the other submissions and evidence before the committee, so they are aware of the community and expert evidence we’re receiving about ... gambling harm.”

Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth asked Murphy’s committee to probe the effect of online gambling, on which Australians spent $7.1 billion in 2021, according to consultancy H2 Gambling Capital. Australians lost about $25 billion on all forms of gambling, including pokies, in 2018-19, according to estimates from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

The Coalition of Major Professional and Participation Sports, which represents the football codes as well as Tennis Australia and Cricket Australia, says that betting on live sport is a legitimate Australian past-time.

“If advertising revenue is diminished, the value of sports media rights will diminish. Revenue from media rights is the principal source of income for the major professional sports … This is then used to fund grassroots sporting programs and the activities of leagues and clubs in the sporting pyramid,” the group’s head of policy, Jo Setright, wrote.
“The sports believe the current rules … strike a reasonable and responsible balance between the public interest in regulating gambling advertisement and minimising problem gambling and the ability of legitimate, regulated wagering businesses to operate.”

Free TV Australia – representing television outlets including Nine Entertainment, which owns this masthead – echoed sporting codes’ concerns about the value of TV broadcast deals and said it would become more difficult to keep sports on free-to-air if gambling ads were reduced.
Anti-gambling groups and other civil society organisations want tighter rules or a total ban on gambling ads, while some players and clubs, including new Collingwood captain Darcy Moore and the South Sydney Rabbitohs, have previously taken aim at what they say is the pervasive influence of gambling in sport.

NSW, Queensland and Tasmania’s submissions to the inquiry argued that current rules were insufficient, while South Australia said a total ban on ads should be considered. Victoria has not made a submission.

The NSW government said its research found nearly 90 per cent of people believed children were exposed to too much gambling promotion. A 2020 poll by research company YouGov found four in five people thought ads during sporting events should be more tightly restricted.

“Recent changes to rules around advertising during live sporting events have not been sufficient to address community concern,” the NSW government said.

The largest online bookie, Sportsbet, and the body representing online wagering firms, Responsible Wagering Australia, emphasised in their submissions that new rules would reduce revenue collected by sports.

Sportsbet – which donated about $19,000 to the campaign of now-Communications Minister Michelle Rowland, who is responsible for the online gaming act, before the last election and which fell below the threshold for the disclosure rules – said it would welcome a conversation about “practical reforms” such as had been made by alcohol companies.

“Other regulated industries that are recognised as safe and legitimate forms of entertainment or leisure (such as the alcohol industry) have implemented practical reforms, such as placement rules to limit exposure of minors, and robust guidelines aimed at addressing specific risks of vulnerable people,” Sportsbet said in its submission.

Some restrictions on gambling promotion already exist, but state governments and academics worry they have little effect.

Gambling ads cannot be shown during live sports events until 8.30pm, though betting firms use half-time and other breaks to advertise. Ads are also prohibited between 4pm and 7pm during shows rated C, P or G, but news and current affairs programs are excluded.

Last year the federal government announced online wagering companies would have to ditch the phrase “gamble responsibly” in advertising by next month in favour of new taglines prompting gamblers to consider the consequences of losing a bet.

The Queensland government’s submission noted the restrictions from 4pm to 7pm applied to 874 minutes out of a total of 2340 minutes of programming across various channels, and that post-7pm television was “saturated” with gambling ads. The restrictions do not include PG-rated shows such as The Simpsons or nightly news bulletins watched by many families.

There were 948 gambling ads on daily free-to-air television in Victoria in 2021, equating to one every 91 seconds and representing a 253 per cent increase from five years earlier, according to research commissioned by the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation.

The South Australian government cited data showing 85 per cent of 11- to 16-year-olds watch sport after 8.30pm, when gambling ads are permitted. Children interviewed knew how to place a bet and could recite technical language related to sports betting. About a quarter intended to gamble once they turned 18, research found.
 

Seagles68

Bencher
Premium Member
Tipping Member
I am against sports betting advertising. It sucks young people in and normalises it.
It is probably hypocritical of me but I don't mind a quiet punt and a beer with friends when we get together but 1) I really hate how prevalent the sports betting ads are on the tele and not thrilled about it being all over our jumper 2) it really worries me when on those few occasions that I might be having a punt and a beer, the (mostly) young blokes around me are betting heavily (and loudly so I know it's heavily) on their phones and almost mimicking the ads run on the tele.
 

Once Was Brissie Kid

Reserve Grader
Lol "failing to grasp the concerns of the public"!!!! The amount of money being bet by the public, suggests the public are more than happy with what's going on.

So, just to summarise where we're at.

GOOD. Use your judgment to back a stock on the Stock Exchange, that's ok, spend all you want my good man.

STILL GOOD. Put all your money into super fund, and let someone else use their judgment to spend all you want.

Still GOOD. Go use as much money and buy as many lottery and lotto tickets as you like in a random game of chance.

GOOD. Go to the city casino and spend all you want, including on pokies and other gambling tables.

BAD. Go to your local Leagues club or pub and put money into the pokies, have a meal, socially interact with other humans, you don't know what you're doing, you're wasting your money and you must be protected from harm.

BAD. Use your lifelong acumen and judgment to back a horse or footy team at the TAB, you don't know what you're doing, you're wasting your money and you must be protected from harm.
 
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lsz

First Grader
Staff member
My issue is how most of the ads are Cleary targeted at a younger audience- it is tough to watch sport with my kids at times because of the amount of ads
 

jbb/james

First Grader
Premium Member
Tipping Member
Lol "failing to grasp the concerns of the public"!!!! The amount of money being bet by the public, suggests the public are more than happy with what's going on.

So, just to summarise where we're at.

GOOD. Use your judgment to back a stock on the Stock Exchange, that's ok, spend all you want my good man.

STILL GOOD. Put all your money into super fund, and let someone else use their judgment to spend all you want.

Still GOOD. Go use as much money and buy as many lottery and lotto tickets as you like in a random game of chance.

GOOD. Go to the city casino and spend all you want, including on pokies and other gambling tables.

BAD. Go to your local Leagues club or pub and put money into the pokies, have a meal, socially interact with other humans, you don't know what you're doing, you're wasting your money and you must be protected from harm.

BAD. Use your lifelong acumen and judgment to back a horse or footy team at the TAB, you don't know what you're doing, you're wasting your money and you must be protected from harm.
that 'once was' is society. full of BS contradictions.
 

SeaEagleRock8

Sea Eagle Lach
Premium Member
Tipping Member
Lol "failing to grasp the concerns of the public"!!!! The amount of money being bet by the public, suggests the public are more than happy with what's going on.

So, just to summarise where we're at.

GOOD. Use your judgment to back a stock on the Stock Exchange, that's ok, spend all you want my good man.

STILL GOOD. Put all your money into super fund, and let someone else use their judgment to spend all you want.

Still GOOD. Go use as much money and buy as many lottery and lotto tickets as you like in a random game of chance.

GOOD. Go to the city casino and spend all you want, including on pokies and other gambling tables.

BAD. Go to your local Leagues club or pub and put money into the pokies, have a meal, socially interact with other humans, you don't know what you're doing, you're wasting your money and you must be protected from harm.

BAD. Use your lifelong acumen and judgment to back a horse or footy team at the TAB, you don't know what you're doing, you're wasting your money and you must be protected from harm.
Gambling is addictive and if you're a high roller you can absorb the losses or not even notice them.
Gambling agencies make massive profits (hence the vast amount they are happy to spend advertising their services) and that is because punters lose a lot more than they win. And most punters are not high rollers.
There are numersous studies that show:
  • sport betting advertising works and more young people are gambling more often and more money
  • there are serious social consequences from problem gambling, such as people losing their cars homes and jobs, tied to escalating relationship tensions and domestic violence

But sure, aside from all that it is harmless fun.
 

jbb/james

First Grader
Premium Member
Tipping Member
Gambling is addictive and if you're a high roller you can absorb the losses or not even notice them.
Gambling agencies make massive profits (hence the vast amount they are happy to spend advertising their services) and that is because punters lose a lot more than they win. And most punters are not high rollers.
There are numersous studies that show:
  • sport betting advertising works and more young people are gambling more often and more money
  • there are serious social consequences from problem gambling, such as people losing their cars homes and jobs, tied to escalating relationship tensions and domestic violence

But sure, aside from all that it is harmless fun.
completely agree but substitute gambling with alcohol and it reads exactly the same
just observation, you nailed it
 

Harmless27

Reserve Grader
I actually think we are entering a really interesting period in terms of advertising revenue.
FWIW I abhore gambling advertising in mainstream media and for sporting events. I am ABSOLUTELY in favour of grown adults making their own choices and doing what they want to have fun..... but the prevelance of advertising and the targeting of young people really disturbs me. It is no different to junk food advertising, alcohol advertising, and (back in the day) cigarette advertising.

The challenge for mainstream sports is - where do you make money if not for these revenue streams?

THAT is the challenge..... we have seen in overseas sports that new players (such as Crypto currency providers and share trading) have stepped into the breach as other sources have dried up.

I wodner what will come of RL and what path they will follow. There is no doubt the current flow of betting ads will start to drop at some stage - who will step in?

Has anyone noticed the new 'ball' sponsor this year in the NRL?

I think it is challenging to find providers that pass the pub-test... but more than happy to see the back of Lottoland and others
 

mickqld

Sea Eagle forever
Tipping Member
Yep, let's take personal responsibility out of our hands and into the Government again. How about we just give everyone Govt vouchers instead of money. That way we can be completely under control.
 

WiseyEagle

Reserve Grader
I will be listening to the footy on the ABC sport app, so no ads! Getting good value out of my 8 cents a day that's for sure! Unfortunately I will be watching the Manly televised games on 9 , so I might have to turn the 9 commentary volume down and listen to ABC commentary. Yes this could work, hopefully
 

Nike

Reserve Grader
If your argument for advertising is personal responsibility or your judgement then you are by default in favor of every other type of advertising - especially tobacco.

In case you didn't realise the restrictions might not be exclusively for you and your little corner of the world princess, it's to stop your kids and the vulnerable from being influenced. If you don't think advertising and media is influencing you on a subconscious level that affects your conscious decision making, I've got a bridge to sell you.

These things aren't exactly hard to verify beyond reasonable doubt.
 
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Uk eagle

Bencher
I'm torn on this one. For me they can advertise whatever the hell they want and it won't affect me, I'm just not suckered in by them, but I'm not everyone.
But on the flip side I have witnessed first hand the damage that a gambling addiction can have. I've got a mate who lost his house and family, stole a fair chunk of cash from his employer (and was the thickness of a cigarette paper from serving time because of it). A nicer bloke you couldn't wish to meet but gambling got a grip on him and he couldn't tell right from wrong.
It's easy to say we all have a choice but to the people who have an addictive personality, I'm not sure that they do
 

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