SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Australian parliamentary committee has urged the government to review its laws on publicity and advertising of gambling and sports betting advertisements during sports broadcasts in order to protect children and Australia vulnerable. The Joint Select Committee on Gambling Reform (COAG) released a report yesterday containing a series of recommendations to restrict the influence of sports betting and gambling promotions on the Australian viewing public.
The Committee would like to readdress the advertising of gambling current self-regulation status and add tougher restrictions on promotion of gambling and igaming products during televisual and audio programing. The committee highlight that many Australian youngsters are exposed to brands when viewing popular sports on day time TV scheduling. The committee claim that exposure at a young age can lead youngsters to take up betting and gambling as they become accustomed to the messaging by operators and may belief it to be normal, habitual adult custom.
The COAG further urges the government to review current law and regulation regarding coverage and advertising of sports betting and gambling product inside stadiums,official club shirt sponsors and merchandise marketed to children featuring betting logos.In a move that would reduce celebrity bookmaker Tom Waterhouse’s prominence, the dissenting report also urges the government to prohibit the promotion of gambling services during editorial segments of sports and sports-related programs.
The tough stance taken by Australian regulators on betting has already seen the prohibiting of live or in-play odds being publicized during sporting events. This is no doubt derogatory news for bookmakers targeting the Australian market, SBC reports that advertising of igaming products on traditional mediums increased 50% in 2012. International bookmakers operating in the Australian market are eagerly awaiting any further action by the Australian government on regulation of sports betting and gambling products.
