Abbott proposes ban on live betting during sports broadcasts
Tony Abbott will ban live betting during televised sports broadcasts if he becomes Prime Minister.
- Published by David Knox
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Tony Abbott will ban live betting during televised sporting broadcasts if he becomes Prime Minister.
News Limited reports an Abbott government would impose a live betting blackout unless the television industry takes action first.
Warning it was wrong for children to learn about gambling before they learnt about the game, Mr Abbott said the current level of gambling advertising was wrecking sport.
“The game should be about performances, not about whether you might make 10 bucks by guessing who scores the first goal,” he said.
With continued criticism of current regulations it’s a move likely to win wide support.
Free TV Australia has proposed new restrictions on the promotion of live odds during live sporting events but
it doesn’t limit live odds for other sports, interstate matches or place bans on odds during commercial breaks.
The Greens have introduced legislation that would completely ban broadcasters from advertising or mentioning odds during a broadcast.
18 Responses
Won’t somebody think of the children!!
And Keno etc at Clubs, where children have access. Also betting ads at Sports Grounds. We need to protect children
Is this promise written down or just off the cuff, Mr Rabbitt?? God, what has this country become when this utter dreggs is the government in waiting….
Another election winning promise by Tony.
Lets hope Gina, Rupert or James Packer don’t have any interests in the on-air gambling industry.
I watch seven don’t do betting or foxtel afl only before the game and it not every game they do betting.
Not clear what Tony Abbott is saying here that goes beyond what Free TV Australia are already proposing.
FTA are proposing that no gambling promotion take place during sports broadcasts but are not limiting the scope and extent of gambling promotion during commercial breaks. Surely to be effective all gambling promotion should be banned, both during broadcasts and commercial breaks.In other words,treat gambling promotion in the same way tobacco advertising is treated.
Anybody know what Tones is proposing ?
I may be wrong but i think on 9’s Sydney news tonight they used footage of Foxtels footy coverage / tab betting when reporting on this…..wonder why they didn’t have Tom front and centre?Very cheeky and also bit of promo for Roosters / Steggles getting their own sports report before all other sport 10 minutes later.
FTA news is certainly losing it’s credibility with cross promos etc and the biggest bit of BS going around – Breaking News!!!
David can you elborate on the last sentence you posted in this story?
“The Greens have introduced legislation that would completely ban broadcasters from advertising or mentioning odds during a broadcast.”
Ban all advertising? Commercial break, banners on the side of the field and sponsorship on players shirts/shorts? It’s very vague. I don’t see the issue with betting on games. I don’t as I don’t follow any of these sports, AFL, NRL, Tennis etc.
But I don’t see how the government understands that children will begin betting, with the pocket money their parents give them or will their parents not be held accountable that the kids will gamble?
This is one hot mess. If it were on Foxtel, then we wouldn’t have this issue.
How about banning irrelevant cross promotion during the News? Seven did a 2 minute piece on Celebrity Splash! omg.
Good ol’ easy road, Abbott. Take something Free TV was about to do & claim it as your own. What a visionary man!
its the only thing i agree with him
Tony, now finally you have our families vote
@Jason – FreeTv aren’t saying that they’ll ban ads for gambling companies, just the broadcast of live odds. I think this is the responsible position and will prob happen anyway regardless of what Mr Abbott (or Ms Gillard) may or may not do.
I wonder what odds Tom is offering on this promise?
@Craig – Maybe he won’t and maybe it won’t. As the Greens would support it why doesn’t he introduce legislation now? Or support the Greens’ legislation and get it passed now? Upset too many Lib media mates before the election maybe?
We all know that Free TV won’t do anything like ban gambling advertising, so why the wait?
“he should ban irrelevant cross promotion during game also. Ch7 don’t do it during AFL …”
… but by God they make up for it during the tennis season.
Given Abbott will be our next PM come September 15 I guess this will happen.
Good move, he should ban irrelevant cross promotion during game also. Ch7 don’t do it during AFL, why do ch9 need to?