Australian gambling industry calls for ban on live betting
It is unusual for gambling operators to publicly object to advertising their services. But that's exactly what's happening in Australia, where betting officials are bowing to public pressure to scrap live betting odds during televised sporting events.
Tougher TV Standards
The leader of the Australian Gambling Commission, which represents Australia's seven licensed corporate bookmakers, decided on Thursday to back tougher television standards. They proposed changes to the current code of conduct that would include banning bookmakers from interrupting sports broadcasts, something many officials have called for in recent months.
“This is really what the community has been asking for,” said Michael Sullivan, CEO of Sportingbet.
The Sydney Morning Herald also quoted an anonymous gambling industry executive as saying the commission was simply trying to respond to "rapidly" changing public opinion about the promotion of gambling on televised sports events.
Industry Transformation
This is a big change since March, when the commission pushed for full freedom for TV advertisers. However, the public outcry has been so intense that many in the industry believe that not backing down on the issue will harm their companies.
One particularly controversial figure in the battle is Tom Waterhouse, owner of the eponymous online bookmaker. TomWaterhouse.com has become a prominent advertiser for Channel Nine and other ABC sports events, with Waterhouse himself regularly appearing on screens at and during matches.
This angered many viewers and led Sullivan to believe that Waterhouse was single-handedly turning the public against the gambling industry. Senator Nick
The new proposal wouldn't completely eliminate betting odds distribution for televised sporting events, but it would limit when those portions occur. Betting representatives can talk about odds before a game, at halftime or between quarters, but commentators or betting representatives are not allowed to mention odds during a game.
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Source: www.casino.org
