New restrictions on sports betting advertising significant

27 May 2013


stephen_jones_interview.jpgI welcome Prime Ministers announcement to introduce new rules that regulate sports bet advertising.

They mean the bookies are bounced from the stadium, the gambling ads are restricted to quarter and half time and live odds ads are canned for the entire game.

Nobody should underestimate the significance of these changes.

This sends a clear message to the Corporate Bookies, Broadcasters and the Professional Sporting Codes. They are now on notice gambling and professional sport can co-exist, but we cant have a model of professional sport or free-to-air broadcasting that is dependent on gambling revenue for its viability.

Equally, if we want to see sport on free-to-air TV we have to have advertising.

It is well known that I have been pushing for gambling advertising to be removed from childrens (PG) viewing times (8.30pm). I want to explore this issue further with the Prime Minister and my collegues in Caucus tomorrow.

Barry OFarrell should follow Jay Wetherills Lead

My congratulations to SA Premier Jay Wetherill for announcing he will introduce extensive changes to the SA Gambling Laws which will ban live odds promotion and the gambling advertising at their stadiums.

This has the potential to create a national code for other States.

NSW Premier Barry OFarrell has expressed some views on this today. NSW and other States can and should follow South Australias lead on this.