Major sports reject need for more regulation of online gambling

The Coalition of Major Professional and Participation Sports (COMPPS), the body representing Australia’s principal sporting codes, has rejected calls for more regulation of online gambling.

COMPPS representatives have told a Federal parliamentary inquiry that, alongside action by individual sporting codes, current advertising and broadcast restrictions are sufficient, despite a rise in problem gambling

Speaking this week, COMPPS’ Executive Director of Policy, Jo Setright, said the existing arrangements strike the right balance between what she stated “the public interest in watching sport without excessive references to gambling and live odds or undue exposure of viewers including children to gambling promotion” and “the right of betting operators to advertise their products in a socially responsible manner”.

In a submission to the inquiry, Setright explained “any measures that impact the advertising revenue model for broadcasters may affect the value of sports’ media rights, which (our) members use to fund their grassroots and game development and other programs.”

Over the past year a number of clubs have moved away from links and sponsorships with betting group - although promotions often emphasise gambling as a normal part of sport.

NRL clubs South Sydney Rabbitohs and Canterbury Bulldogs announced they would ban betting promotions on ground signage and big screens and remove sponsorship from all club apparel.

The parliamentary inquiry chair, Labor MP Peta Murphy, said COMPPS’ statement was not in line with community sentiment.

Murphy told Guardian Australia “that does not gel well with the clear community sentiment and it does not gel well with some of the evidence we are receiving from experts about increasing gambling and increasing gambling harm.

“Obviously the committee wants to interrogate that position with them and give them the opportunity to talk to it.”

An average of 948 gambling advertisements were broadcast each day on free-to-air television in Victoria during 2021, according to the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation.

COMPPS told the inquiry revenue generated by wagering partnerships allowed governing bodies to fund their integrity units and other “operational priorities”, with Setright noting “it is important that any review of online gambling regulation recognises the need for such funding to continue in order to support the maintenance and where necessary strengthening of the sports’ integrity protection programs.”.

Australia has the highest gambling losses of any country, at an average of $1,276 a person each year, with problem gambling rates more than doubling from 0.6% of the adult population in 2011 to 1.23% in 2019.

Last month, the Federal Government announced plans for gambling companies to replace the “gamble responsibly” tagline on advertisements to one of six new warnings including: “Chances are you’re about to lose.”

COMPPS represents AFL, NRL, Tennis Australia, Rugby Australia, Football Australia and Netball Australia

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