Canterbury veteran Sam Perrett says betting advertising has become too pervasive in the NRL and gambling is an increasing problem amongst young players.
A day after the game was rocked by allegations of match-fixing, the Bulldogs winger said the game’s ties with bookmakers were having negative impacts.
Critics have questioned the manner in which odds are prominently spruiked during NRL broadcasts the effect it is having on young viewers and the game’s culture.
Allegations that six players were paid $50,000 each to throw two games last year have opened up discussions about the saturated promotion of gambling.
Perrett, a devout Mormon who does not bet, said he was uneasy about how heavily the gambling industry was promoted by the game.
“I think all things in moderation and if you’re very heavy towards one thing then it has side effects,” Perrett said.
NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg on Thursday said match-fixing was far removed from legal gambling and denied it was a flow-on effect of the game’s association with bookmakers.
The NRL last month spruiked its $60 million deal with bookmaker Sportsbet to remain its official betting partner, and said funds from that would trickle down to the grassroots of the game.
It also promised protocol around advertising and marketing to ensure responsible gambling.
Perrett said young players were also becoming increasingly sucked in by the allure of gambling during their downtime.
“It seems that a lot of boys are involved in it and they don’t seem to have direction and purpose and other things to tie up their time,” said the former New Zealand international.
“So they get involved in it and I don’t understand it because I haven’t experienced it myself.
“One thing I do know is that when you’re not occupying your mind with good, healthy things, you can get distracted by all sorts of things.”
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