The Chair of the Joint Select Committee on Gambling Reform and Independent Member for Denison, Andrew Wilkie, will discuss the release of the Committee’s report into the advertising and promotion of gambling in sport and the Broadcasting Services Amendment (Advertising for Sports Betting) Bill 2013.
The Committee report and media release is available on the Australian Parliament House website at http://www.aph.gov.au.
Mr Wilkie said the report was important because of the recent rapid proliferation of gambling advertising and heightened community concern about the gamblification of sport.
“People are really concerned by the wall-to-wall promotion of sports betting and the effect that it’s having on sport,” Mr Wilkie said.
Mr Wilkie agreed with many of the report’s recommendations but was deeply dissatisfied that it did not go nearly far enough in some crucial areas. His dissenting comments are contained at the end of the report.
“The fundamental problem here is that gambling advertising continues to be allowed during children’s television time. That’s harmful for children, completely out of step with community expectations and, for the life of me, I can’t understand why the Government hasn’t stopped it,” Mr Wilkie said.
“The problem with gambling advertising isn’t just the obvious advertisements. Gambling is promoted in other ways during children’s viewing time, and in particular on players’ jumpers and that also must be stopped by the Government.”
“Credible research shows us that exposure to gambling advertising can serve to normalise gambling for children. Banning gambling promotion during normal G-rated television but allowing them during sports broadcasts when in fact children are most likely to be watching simply doesn’t make sense.”
Mr Wilkie also recommended a ban on live odds promotion during sports related broadcasts, such as The Footy Show.
“The Government is really letting us down on this. People are sick of having their enjoyment of the game ruined by gambling promotion and worried about their children. The recent announcement by the broadcasters that they’ll drop live odds doesn’t go nearly far enough and it’s beyond time for the Government to act.”
Andrew Wilkie MP, Independent Member for Denison
