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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-06-08 Daily Xml
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LIVE ODDS BETTING

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (15:03): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Gambling a question about live odds betting.

Leave granted.

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: There has been ongoing concern from sectors of the community that promotion, including commentary by sporting role models, is becoming the norm during live sports coverage. There is also concern that the development of live odds betting can significantly influence vulnerable and young people and normalise gambling behaviour. I understand that this matter was discussed at the recent Select Council on Gambling Reform. My question to the minister is: can she update the chamber about what action is being taken to reduce and control the promotion of live odds betting during sports coverage?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Gambling) (15:04): I thank the honourable member for her important question. Indeed, state governments have been concerned for some time about the prevalence of advertising of gambling services on TV, particularly in relation to the promotion of live odds during sporting telecasts of popular events, such as AFL, NRL and international cricket matches.

This important issue received national attention at the second COAG Select Council on Gambling Reform in February of this year, where it was agreed that the commonwealth would work with states and territories to prepare a joint paper discussing possible approaches in relation to gambling advertising during sports broadcasts.

I understand that anecdotal evidence has indicated that there has been an increase in gambling advertisements during sports coverage on TV and also a growing encouragement of gambling by sports organisations and broadcasters within the telecast, including quoting of live odds.

Furthermore, late last year, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists expressed concerns about the introduction of gambling advertising on sports programs, particularly during the day when children might be watching, and how the use of commentators and sporting role models to promote gambling and discuss betting odds can, in effect, normalise gambling and influence vulnerable people and children.

I understand that the college raised these concerns in the context of the then international cricket coverage. For the council's information, at present, gambling advertising on free-to-air is regulated under the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice 2010. Under the code, gambling advertisements are permitted to be aired during any news or sporting programs at any time outside the G classification periods Monday to Friday or before 6am, between 8.30am and 4pm and after 7.30pm on weekends.

The code does not explicitly define a sporting program, but is broad in scope and includes sport-related programs, such as the Nine Network's Footy Show. Under the code, gambling advertisements can be shown at any time on digital multichannels, such as One HD, as they do not have G classification periods, except on weekends between 6am and 8.30am and 4pm and 7.30pm.

I am pleased to advise the chamber that at the most recent select council meeting members agreed to take action to reduce and control the promotion of live odds during sports coverage. The select council also agreed that consultation will occur with the industry in relation to the scope of measures designed to reduce and control the promotion of live odds during sports coverage.

In the first instance, industry will be provided with the opportunity to address this issue through amendments to their existing industry codes. However, if satisfactory amendments are not in place by the end of June 2012, the Australian government has indicated that it will consider the need for legislation.

By way of background: since March 2009, all lawful wagering operators, local and interstate, offering services into South Australia are required to comply with South Australia's responsible gambling measures, including the Responsible Gambling Codes of Conduct and Advertising Codes of Practice.

Nevertheless, while it is possible for each state and territory to indirectly influence live betting commentary through regulation of betting operators, it is obviously far more efficient and consistent for the commonwealth to regulate media providers. That is why I am pleased that the select council is agreed on this direct approach for the commonwealth government to regulate the media providers in relation to live odds betting.

We obviously need to be vigilant when it comes to reducing the risk of young people being significantly influenced by the promotion of gambling, especially if it is associated with their favourite programs and media and sporting personnel. As I said, we are concerned that the use of commentators and sporting role models to promote gambling and discuss betting odds might normalise gambling behaviour, particularly amongst young people. I am pleased that the agreement has been reached between states and territories and that we are working with the commonwealth to regulate and promote live odds coverage during sporting coverage.

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