Australia: criticism of gambling ads ahead of AFL Grand Final
Some government MPs, athletes and AFL clubs have complained of gambling companies piling ads into pre-game coverage for Saturday’s AFL Grand Final in Perth.
Australia.- Government MPs, athletes and AFL clubs have complained that after a prohibition on airing gambling advertising during or within five minutes of live sports broadcasts, gambling companies have been stacking ads in pre-game coverage.
Queensland MP Andrew Wallace, who is behind plans to ban credit card spending on online gambling, said more action is required. He called for gambling ads to eventually be restricted altogether like smoking ad.
He said: “Kids seem to be just absolutely hammered with what the odds are on this or that and there seems to be an almost non-delineation between sport and gambling.”
Sam Bingley, North Melbourne’s chief commercial officer, said: “I certainly think that in 10 or 15 or 20 years’ time we may look back and be surprised that there ever was gambling advertising, in a similar way that we look back on cigarette advertising.”
Calls to reduce gambling ads during sports coverage have been supported by AFL players like Brodie Grundy and Darcy Moore who questioned the extent of gambling advertisements, saying young AFL fans are working to separate the sport from the industry.
David Attenborough, Tabcorp chief executive, has also urged the government to impose stricter limitations on gambling ads to protect children and teenagers.
Attenborough said the government should think about a further crackdown, especially around live games. According to WA Today, he suggested further limitations on prime-time TV ads, excluding racing channels, would better protect vulnerable Australians. He suggested Australia should replicate the UK model.
TV gambling ads remain one of the subjects of the most complaints received by regulators. Despite measures to reduce ads during live sport three years ago, the industry spent AU$271.3m on ads last year, up from AU$89.7m in 2011.
ACMA raps Foxtel for breaching ad rules
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has found Foxtel Cable Television guilty of breaching advertising rules for airing a betting commercial during half-time of an AFL match on Easter Monday afternoon.
Foxtel self-reported the breach to ACMA after receiving complaints from viewers. It said the breach was caused by human error and that it has since provided employees with training on gambling advertising obligations.
The company has also introduced new control measures to ensure that gambling advertisements will not be mistakenly displayed during live sports events in the future.
