Australia bans gambling ads during televised sports matches

Gambling adverts will be banned on Australian television during live sporting events after the federal government implemented new legislation to limit children’s exposure to betting.

The new laws were written up by the Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association (ASTRA) and come into force on 30 March, when no gambling ads will be shown during matches televised between 5am and 8.30pm to coincide with the second round of the Australian Football League season and the fourth round of the National Rugby League.

The ban will apply from five minutes before the start of play to five minutes after the final whistle.

The blackout has been backed by Australia’s online bookmakers through lobby group Responsible Wagering Australia, which said it recognised the public’s concern about the levels of gambling advertising and particularly the volume of advertising viewed by minors.

Online advertising is exempt from the new regulations and there are also exceptions for what has been described as “low-audience” pay-per-view sports channels, like ESPN and Eurosport.

It was reported that industry bodies like Free TV Australia would seek an exemption for bet-on-lotto operators after concerns were raised that a blanket ban would diminish the value of media rights and further affect TV corporations which are already struggling for ad revenue.

However, it has now been confirmed that the ban will also cover lottery betting promotions.