Proposal to ban gambling adverts during Australian live sports events

Australian betting companies are anxiously awaiting the outcome of a Cabinet proposal by federal Communications Minister Mitch Fifield that a federal ban be imposed on all gambling advertising on live sports events from the start of the games to the end.

The Australian publication B&T Mag quotes The Australian newspaper on the proposal, reporting that Fifield has already met with sports body chiefs to assess the impact of such a ban.

The government is mulling some sort of compensation for the lost advertising, which may take the form of a trade-off with free-to-air TV networks, which is likely to see them use the deal as leverage to have their licensing fees reduced. It is not yet clear whether a similar deal will be struck to compensate subscription television.

Fifield’s plan has already attracted flak from Malcolm Speed, executive director of the Coalition of Major Professional and Participation Sports, which represents all of the major local sporting codes.

He has concerns that such a ban would adversely impact on media rights deals or the value of media rights.

“We operate in a highly-regulated system, where there are limits on placement of sports betting advertising,” he told The Australian. “The sports have co-operated with broadcasters and the government to ban live odds during matches. So, any restriction or prohibition will inevitably result in lowering investment in community and participation programs, and grassroots development.”

In some ways, Fifield’s proposal echoes that of anti-gambling independent Senator Nick Xenophon, whose ideas for similar restrictions were rejected recently by the federal Senate (see previous reports).

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