2016-04-08
Australian Greens leader and spokesperson on gambling and sport, Senator Richard Di Natale, was joined by Greens candidate for LaTrobe Tom Cummings today to unveil the Greens policy to end the constant barrage of sports betting ads, by treating them in the same way as tobacco advertising.
"Today the Greens are announcing a reform that will make it possible for people to sit down with their kids and watch a game of footy without being bombarded by constant messages to bet," Senator Di Natale said.
"The Greens have a bill to stop the promotion of sports betting, in the same way tobacco advertising was banned in 1992. Nobody is saying people shouldn't have the freedom to have a punt if they want, but watching a game of footy shouldn't be like walking into a casino.
"The Greens led this campaign in the last parliament, which brought about an end to the broadcasting of live odds, but more needs to be done. Sports betting ads still dominate sport with one in six ads aired during the first round of the AFL for sports betting.
"It's time to take the promotion of gambling out of sport and to stop normalising gambling for our kids."
Greens candidate for La Trobe Tom Cummings has long advocated for reform to the promotion of gambling in sport.
"I've spoken to people who have given up going to the MCG on game day, who no longer watch the footy with their families, because they couldn't escape the avalanche of betting promotion," Cummings said.
"I've talked to schoolkids who think their team's odds are more important than their position on the ladder, and the situation is only getting worse.
"Sports betting, like tobacco, is an adult product; it can, and does, cause a great deal of harm. It's time bookmakers accepted that. Let's get their ads off our screens and out of our stadiums, and let's get back to enjoying sport again."