Australia to allow gambling logos on sports jerseys until 2031
Australia’s new gambling advertising rules will ban wagering company logos on professional sports jerseys, but existing sponsorship agreements will be allowed to continue until December 31, 2031.
Australia.- The Australian government has introduced a five-year transition period to give sports clubs and wagering companies time to adjust existing commercial agreements. The provision means some gambling brands could remain on professional teams’ uniforms for several more years, despite the new ban.
The transition period has drawn criticism from politicians and gambling harm experts. Independent Senator David Pocock called on clubs to end their wagering sponsorships as soon as possible, arguing that the arrangement could leave betting logos on jerseys even when the legislation undergoes its scheduled three-year review.
“We are in an absurd situation whereby the time of the legislation’s three-year statutory review, jerseys may still have betting logos on them,” Pocock said.
Liberal MP Andrew Wallace, who voted against the reform package, also argued that five years was too long. He had proposed a two-year transition period to give sporting organisations enough time to find alternative sponsors.
Communications Minister Anika Wells defended the five years, saying the government was seeking to balance the new rules with existing commercial contracts. She said one unnamed sports club has a jersey sponsorship agreement running until 2031, although several other contracts are due to expire earlier.
Seven National Rugby League clubs currently have wagering or lottery brands on their jerseys, with some agreements running until at least the end of the 2028 season.
