According
to The Australian newspaper, the ban could come into force as early as next
week, with Communications Minister Mitch Fifeld to put the proposal to the
cabinet on Tuesday.
However,
the proposed move has attracted criticism from sporting bodies, which say the
ban could have a negative impact on funding for grassroots sports.
A senior
source at a major sporting body told the newspaper: "This will drive punters to
overseas websites and it will result in no reduction in gambling, but a
reduction in taxation to state and federal governments. It also has the
potential to rob sports of product fees.”
Malcolm
Speed, the executive director of the Coalition of Major Professional and
Participation Sports, which represents all major codes in Australia, has also
hit out at the plans. "We don’t support a ban on sports betting advertising, on
the basis that it is likely to impact on media rights deals or the value of
media rights, which is the sports’ greatest asset. We operate in a
highly-regulated system, where there are limits on placement of sports betting
advertising,” he said.
"The sports
have co-operated with broadcasters and the government to ban live odds during
matches; so any restriction or prohibition will inevitably result in lowering
investment in community and participation programmes, and grassroots
development,” Speed concluded.
Source: GMB / igamingbusiness.com
