Australian operators brace for TV sports ad ban
Federal government rumoured to be considering a total ban on TV betting ads during sports broadcasts
Australian online betting operators could face a total ban on TV advertising during sports broadcasts under proposals being considered by the federal government.
According to The Australian, communications minister Mitch Fifield is expected to table the proposals during Tuesday’s Cabinet after meetings with AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan and NRL COO Nick Weeks this week.
The move, which is supported by anti-gambling Senator Nick Xenophon, would see all betting adverts banned from the start to the end of matches on both free-to-air and pay TV.
However, such a ban is likely to face resistance from Australian broadcasters, sporting codes and gambling operators – the latter spent an estimated $150m on advertisements last year.
“We don’t support a ban on sports betting advertising, on the basis that it is likely to impact on media rights deals or the value of media rights, which is the sports’ greatest asset,” Malcolm Speed, executive director of the Coalition of Major Professional and Participation Sports, told The Australian.
“The sports have co-operated with broadcasters and the government to ban live odds during matches,” Speed added. “So any restriction or prohibition will inevitably result in lowering investment in community and participation programmes, and grassroots development.”
Last year, New South Wales (NSW) became the first Australian state to ban the advertising of live betting odds during sporting broadcasts.
Today’s news comes as the Australian federal government looks to get the long-awaited Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill 2016 through Parliament within the next couple of months.
According to sources, the gambling bill could be delayed until July after it failed to pass the House of Representatives.
The legislation – which clarifies the ban on online poker and in-play betting – needs to be ratified for a second time by the lower House after an amended version was recently sent back to the chamber by the Senate.
Read EGR Intel’s recent summary of the Australian regulatory landscape here.