Report: Govt may do deal to reduce gambling ads
Speculation the govt may agree to reduce gambling ads during sport in exchange for crossbench votes.
- Published by David Knox
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- Filed under News
The Turnbull government is considering doing a deal with independent senator Nick Xenophon which could reduce gambling ads during TV sport.
Fairfax Media reports the government may agree to slashing TV gambling ads in exchange for the support of the three Nick Xenophon Team (NXT) senators on media ownership deregulation.
But banning gambling ads during sporting events would hit networks hard, worth approximately $120 million last year.
That loss of revenue would be offset by a reduction or abolition of TV licence fees, worth around $112 million a year.
Labor and the Greens remain opposed to changes to current media reform proposals, including axing the 2 out of 3 rule, on the grounds it could reduce media diversity.
Senator Xenophon has also expressed his own concerns about changes to media ownership.
A spokeswoman for Senator Fifield said the Minister continues to have constructive discussions with his crossbench colleagues.
“Licence fees are being examined in the budget context and the Government does not comment on Budget speculation.”
Free TV has previously said, “Commercial broadcasters already have the most comprehensive, targeted set of restrictions on the promotion of betting services of any media platform in Australia.”
4 Responses
However distasteful, Gambling is a legitimate business. IMO no sportsperson, commentator, presenter or media “star” should promote gambling and the TV ads should be restricted to ad breaks and contain a lengthy warning message at the end. This is a small change and deserves no compensation. The sporting industry should ban all visual ads for gambling from their sporting venues. If the players want to become “moving billboards” they should remember that their reputations will be associated with the businesses they advertise.
That is a short sighted comment. Gambling is more accessible in Australia then almost anywhere else in the world and the betting agency’s don’t do enough to help problem gamblers. This will go along way.
why?
if you have a problem with gambling stop blaming others…
better ban car ads – people crash cars which can kill people.
Tv stations must reduce gambling advertising. In return they should get nothing. They already have free use of the spectrum.