Australia will crack down on bookmakers promoting live odds during sports broadcasts out of fears the practice is pushing youth and the vulnerable into gambling.
Sports-related gambling in Australia, worth A$2.8 billion ($3 billion) in 2008, has exploded in recent years, with live odds provided by bookmaker sponsors becoming a fixture at professional sports events, both on scoreboards and called by broadcasters.
"Governments are concerned that promotion, including commentary by sporting role models, is becoming insidious in live sports coverage," the Select Council on Gambling Reform said in a statement on Friday following a work-group meeting.
"We are concerned that this can significantly influence vulnerable and young people and normalise gambling behaviour."
The industry will be given until the end of June next year to address the practice or risk having laws introduced to control it.
The ban will affect all sporting codes except horse racing, due to the sport's traditional association with wagering.
Existing contracts involving the promotion of live odds with broadcasters would be allowed to continue, but no new contracts would be permitted, federal communications minister Stephen Conroy said.
"You won't need to have (former Australia cricketer and TV commentator) Richie Benaud telling you and urging you, here's the odds on who's going to get out next, or who's going to bowl the next no-ball -- that kind of advertising that's being pushed into people's faces," Conroy told local reporters.
The move comes amid a push by sports officials for federal government legislation to control sports-related gambling.
It also comes a day after a player in the country's top-flight National Rugby League was charged by police as part of spot-fixing probe.
Former Bulldogs forward Ryan Tandy, who had already been charged with giving false information to police, was sacked by his club after a police investigation was launched into suspicious betting activity surrounding the team's match against the North Queensland Cowboys.
Tandy gave away a penalty in front of the posts early in the match after a number of large bets had been placed on the first points of the game coming from a penalty kick.
A high-profile player manager and a former player have also been charged in the probe.
The Australian Football League (AFL), custodians of the popular indigenous code Australian Rules, have also launched an investigation into plunges on exotic bets in several recent matches.
AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou welcomed the live odds crackdown.
"It is absolutely an issue that this sort of advertising in your face has the potential to get in the heads of young children," he told local radio on Friday.
Australia is also conducting a review into existing online gambling laws amid concerns the legislation is failing to rein in betting on unauthorised websites.
Sports-related gambling in Australia, worth A$2.8 billion ($3 billion) in 2008, has exploded in recent years, with live odds provided by bookmaker sponsors becoming a fixture at professional sports events, both on scoreboards and called by broadcasters.
"Governments are concerned that promotion, including commentary by sporting role models, is becoming insidious in live sports coverage," the Select Council on Gambling Reform said in a statement on Friday following a work-group meeting.
"We are concerned that this can significantly influence vulnerable and young people and normalise gambling behaviour."
The industry will be given until the end of June next year to address the practice or risk having laws introduced to control it.
The ban will affect all sporting codes except horse racing, due to the sport's traditional association with wagering.
Existing contracts involving the promotion of live odds with broadcasters would be allowed to continue, but no new contracts would be permitted, federal communications minister Stephen Conroy said.
"You won't need to have (former Australia cricketer and TV commentator) Richie Benaud telling you and urging you, here's the odds on who's going to get out next, or who's going to bowl the next no-ball -- that kind of advertising that's being pushed into people's faces," Conroy told local reporters.
The move comes amid a push by sports officials for federal government legislation to control sports-related gambling.
It also comes a day after a player in the country's top-flight National Rugby League was charged by police as part of spot-fixing probe.
Former Bulldogs forward Ryan Tandy, who had already been charged with giving false information to police, was sacked by his club after a police investigation was launched into suspicious betting activity surrounding the team's match against the North Queensland Cowboys.
Tandy gave away a penalty in front of the posts early in the match after a number of large bets had been placed on the first points of the game coming from a penalty kick.
A high-profile player manager and a former player have also been charged in the probe.
The Australian Football League (AFL), custodians of the popular indigenous code Australian Rules, have also launched an investigation into plunges on exotic bets in several recent matches.
AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou welcomed the live odds crackdown.
"It is absolutely an issue that this sort of advertising in your face has the potential to get in the heads of young children," he told local radio on Friday.
Australia is also conducting a review into existing online gambling laws amid concerns the legislation is failing to rein in betting on unauthorised websites.
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