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The Roar

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Sport and gambling are too close, and need to be separated

Roar Rookie
31st January, 2015
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Tom Waterhouse famously took big bets on course, but online, things are different (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)
Roar Rookie
31st January, 2015
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I wish this whole article was a joke but it isn’t. The influence of gambling on sport has increased in recent years, but the two are now so intertwined it is hard to tell where one starts and the other begins.

The NRL – in its official app – now has gambling odds as part of its coverage. That should change right now.

Having gambling information in such an accessible manner is purely irresponsible. Kids downloading this app to know their teams results, squads and ladder placings should not see gambling odds.

This however is part of a more major issue. The large gambling companies are the main proponents of gambling advertising, and are pushing gambling odds more and more into the forefront of sporting coverage.

In my view, gambling odds should be banned from being aired during any live sports event and ads for gambling should be banned also. The only exception is horse racing, as horse racing and gambling are historically related. Gambling is a major part of horse racing.

However, I think families should be able to watch any rugby league or other football match and not have gambling odds come up at all. I’ve watched over 50 NHL ice hockey games. Not once did I see any form of sports betting ads. That should be the case in all games of Australian sport.

Families want to watch a match live without seeing gambling ads. The fact we still have them is ridiculous.

Sports gambling advertising should be banned due to the fact it can influence people, with kids thinking that gambling is a normal and accepted part of supporting sporting teams.

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If it’s not, then we will deal with the consequences of the acts and perhaps have the current kids later on picking a team due to them having the best gambling odds, not because they are they’re favourite team.

Gambling and sport should be separated, particularly in free-to-air coverage.

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