Australia wants to ban gambling commercials

Broadcasters expressed their discontent with the proposal that would ban the commercials during live sporting broadcasts.

Australia.- The Australian government has been trying for quite some time to ban advertising of betting odds and gambling commercials. The initial proposal allowed the ads on television and radio, but the ruling administration introduced an amendment that would ban them from live sports broadcasts.

The amendment was introduced by Labor spokesperson for gambling Julie Collins and acting opposition Communications spokesman Mark Dreyfus. “The House calls on the Government to work with the broadcasting industry and national sporting organisations on a transition plan to phase out the promotion of betting odds and commercials relating to betting or gambling before and during live sporting broadcasts, with a view to their prohibition,” the proposal says. They believe that the restrictions should be extended in order to make sure that there’s zero promotion of betting odds and gambling advertising before a game, and even during scheduled commercials.

Lobby group against the measure Free TV, said: “Commercial broadcasters already have the most comprehensive, targeted set of restrictions on the promotion of betting services of any media platform in Australia. Introducing new restrictions which single-out free to air television, which continues to be the most heavily regulated media platform in Australia, is entirely unnecessary. In fact, doing so would risk regulatory bypass and put commercial free to air broadcasters at a competitive disadvantage compared to other media platforms, while failing to achieve the policy intent.”

Australia has been trying to strengthen its regulations, and this week the country fined giant Tabcorp over illegal betting ads. The company was sentenced in Downing Centre Local Court after being found guilty of three counts for running illegal gambling ads in 2015. The promotion was published in both online and in paper in a newspaper in August 2015. Liquor & Gaming NSW carried away an investigation that concluded that Tabcorp was guilty of offering consumers bonus bets and other rewards as a way of encouragement for signing up in their platform. The New South Wales law establishes that bookmakers cannot publish the ads as an attempt to influence gamblers to play or open new betting accounts.