Australian Senate Opens Inquiry Into Gambling Advertising During Sporting Events

Gambling advertising during sporting events will be the subject of a federal Parliamentary inquiry in Australia, according to Andrew Wu of the BRISBANE TIMES. The Senate "passed a motion" by Greens Sen. Richard Di Natale "for a joint select committee on gambling reform inquiry that could have huge ramifications for several major sporting organisations." The committee, which will report to Parliament on May 16, "will examine advertising at venues and during broadcasts, sponsorship, in-game promotion and consider the effects on children." It will also "investigate spot betting, the promotion of odds and the impact on problem gambling." Several of Australia's biggest sports "have sponsorship deals with betting partners." Di Natale said, "You can't watch a sporting event with your kids without being bombarded by betting odds and gambling ads. Not only do we risk undermining the integrity of sport, we risk creating another generation of problem gamblers'' (BRISBANE TIMES, 2/8).