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.”
watcher
Guest
It is a real problem, it is not overstating to say families are torn apart by this. Unfortunately it is at the very roots of sport, pokies have been a staple revenue for League clubs for how long. I have heard pokies described as the crack cocaine of gambling. Alcohol and tobacco gambling is restricted because they are proven harmful products, with all the evidence what is different with gambling. Most people can have a drink sensibly without causing harm, it is the extreme that is the problem. If smoking and drinking were invented yesterday would they be legal.? The crazy thing is in NZ and Aus gambling is largely self regulating. Talk about the fox in charge of the chicken coop. Now there is an issue will the NRL be willing to bite the hand that feeds them if it comes to that. They didn't want to know about when it was brought up along with the drug scandal that enveloped Essendon and Cronulla.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I'd have thought it was pretty clear...matches get fixed so people can win money from gambling. Match fixers don't ply their trade to ensure their favourite team wins the comp. So it's not linked to betting company sponsorship but to sports gambling in general. It's also not rugby league's problem alone or a theory propounded by 'haters'. I'd never suggest banning gambling but if the NRL wants to take the money and be aligned with bookmakers as well as protect the integrity of the game they need to do more than 'support police in their investigations'.
madrid john
Guest
The Winfield cup was canned because tobacco was demonstrably so damaging to society. Why doesn;t gambling get the same treatment. And yes, i'm a drinker and i'd accept alcohol being punted too if need be.
peeeko
Roar Guru
there is too much gambling sponsorship but its not really related to the match fixing allegations. these types are going to do it anyweay
catcat
Guest
Gambling sponsorship in NRL is at saturation point. Next time you're at a game (or watching on TV) count how gambling sponsors are there. They are on shirts, shirt sleeves, fencing and even the name of the stadium itself. All of it is branding for the gamblers of the future...kids. Gambling is for 18+ so marketing of it should be limited to this group, and not be seen at 3pm on a Sunday arvo at the footy.....the law needs to catch up on this one ....
Steve
Guest
Christov.... is that right? During the Owen Craigie interview they switched toSportsbet ? LOL.. thats classic comedy skit right there !
steveng
Roar Rookie
Its very disturbing when 'betting' is continually advertised and being shoved down our throughs in an NRL televised game! The NRL should consider that gullible kids and young adults are watching! This has never ever been apart of rugby league and its an absolute disgrace to see it unfold before our eyes. What Sam Perret is saying is 'spot on' and advertising (irrespective of the dollars) should be banned from any sport! Otherwise incidents of match fixing and players being offered big money will increase and be apart of rugby league forever! And to justify advertising of gambling by giving us that joke of a phrase 'gamble responsibly' is absolutely incredible!
Desert Qlder
Roar Rookie
Has anyone ever proven the link between betting company sponsorship and match fixing? Or is it same vague notion propagated by people who hate the game, like Peter Fitzsimons.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
I've been accused of trying to be a nanny, a do-gooder and other such nonsense because I think that gambling is a crock. Fine, but if a person cannot see the damage such gambling advertising in sport will have on the future of the society they live in, then they are the ones full of nonsense. Unfortunately the rest of us have to mop up the results of their myopic shortsightedness.
Red Dog
Guest
If they could tax Meth it would be legal , but instead they let it go unchecked and great an industry out of it . The Australian government is as corrupt as Sadam Hussein .
concerned supporter
Guest
The Barry, You are spot on with your post. I am a punter on races & sports but I am a Grandfather and have been though it all. It should be like tobacco & alcohol advertising.They are trying to hook the teenagers.The NRL & Todd Greenberg should be ashamed of themselves.
Nate
Guest
The next generation of players is growing up with gambling being totally normalised by the game they play. We are breeding the next generation of players to be problem gamblers yet somehow expect that those issues are not going to bleed onto the playing field.
Christov
Guest
It is sad to see. I remember watching Friday night footy or the footy show or something similar (maybe the weekend one) and they were discussing Owen Craigie and how he was effected by gambling. Sterlo did the interview and story and after the story pretty much said gambling ruined his financial freedom and that he lost most of what he earnt from rugby league Sterlo had to throw to someone who had to tell us all about the odds on today's games. It is bloody disgraceful.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Sleiman - that's exactly the problem I have with gambling. I have a punt most weekends. Sometimes I get a win, more often than not I don't. I'm very comfortable with that and am not in any way anti-gambling. But kids just shouldn't be exposed to this stuff. We've had the sense to ban cigarette and alcohol advertising on TV, either the government or the NRL should be strong enough to do the same with gambling. Punting terminology now pervades rugby league. Ask someone "how do you think the Panthers will go on the weekend?" and more than likely they'll respond with something like "I like the 13+ at $2.90". My kids have asked me what points start means and why do some teams get a points start. Try explaining that one...I ended up explaining the birds and the bees...they were confused to say the least. If we think there's a problem with problem gambling now, in 20 years time if left unchecked it will be an epidemic. Non-stop betting spruiking during the footy, pokies on phones. An adult that wants to have a bet, knows how to get on. Commited gamblers already know the odds and the prices. I like Greenburg but to sit there and say players accused of throwing games has nothing to do with legal gambling is absolutely pathetic. If the NRL wants to take the bookies money they need to invest heavily in appropriate betting monitoring to pick up suspicious activity, not just in toothless after the fact investigations.
Spongebob
Guest
Nooooooooo it can't be so. What next, a few billionaires sponsoring the ATO? Can't imagine any potential conflict of interest.
MAX
Guest
Todd Greenberg should engage Ray Murrihy today. He is exactly what the NRL need. He could prove to be the best appointment of his tenure as CEO.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
It is a disturbing thing to notice children casually dropping betting vocabulary into their banter. Some of the sporty-type children that I work with even think Joel Caine is some kind of celebrity figure... But of course, adults are adult enough to make up their own minds, right?