The Australian government "deleted all references to gambling advertising from its planned review of online wagering, drawing accusations it has caved in to powerful television and bookmaker interests," according to Chip Le Grand of THE AUSTRALIAN. Anti-gambling campaigner Nick Xenophon, who is drafting legislation to ban gambling advertisements during G-rated sporting programs, said that "the government had sounded a retreat before the yet-to-be announced review had even begun." Xenophon said, "It seems that the government has put up the white flag on advertising without putting up a fight in the first place." The review, which will focus on outdated aspects of the 14-year-old Interactive Gambling Act and the social impact of the burgeoning sports betting market, "was originally intended to examine whether advertising for illegal betting products should be banned." Following a backlash by commercial TV operators -- who were misinformed late last week that a ban of all gambling ads was being considered -- Social Services Minister Scott Morrison, "who is overseeing the review, has stripped all references to advertising from the terms of reference." The episode "confirms the growing reliance that free-to-air operators have on gambling ads to underpin their investments in sports broadcast rights." Australian Churches Gambling Taskforce Chair Tim Costello said sports bodies such as the Australian Football League, which recently secured a record A$2.5B ($1.7B) from News Corp., publisher of The Australian, and the Seven Network for its next lot of broadcast rights, were being "captured" by the gaming dollar. Costello said, "The community is profoundly concerned about this" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 9/3).
