Aussie opposition leader threatens a crackdown on gambling ads

The leader of Australia’s official Opposition, Tony Abbot, intends to more strictly regulate sports betting adverts if his party gets into power in the Australian elections this September.

Speaking to ABC news at:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-05/tony-abbott-promises-gambling-crackdown/4670774, Abbot
said that the broadcast of live betting odds during sports events was a particular bone of contention which his party would address if the industry did not police itself.

“If we don’t see the industry itself dealing with this problem then, should the coalition win the election, we will deal with it,” said Abbot, adding that his party would ban live odds from being broadcast half an hour before kick-off.

With political parties already ramping up their election campaigning, ABC noted in the interview that there were no limits on political advertising and screened a typical example to conclude the Abbot interview.

Australian politicians have been critical of the sports betting advertising used extensively on television during sports events, and the involvement of top bookies such as Tom Waterhouse as commentators (see previous bulletins).

The barrage of political criticism has prompted the industry to consider guidelines for advertisers.

In related news, the Australian media reported Monday that a steward’s inquiry has begun in Sydney into allegations that champion horse trainer Gai Waterhouse leaked information to her bookmaker son.

The inquiry has heard that Kiwi-bred More Joyous was on antibiotics and had a sore neck in the days leading up to the race but that officials weren’t told.

Described as the biggest scandal in recent Aussie horse racing history, the affair will be investigated to confirm that the horse was unwell, and whether Gai Waterhouse gave that information to her bookmaker son Tom Waterhouse, but not the horse’s owner John Singleton.

Twenty people will give evidence at the inquiry including rugby league great Andrew Johns who will give a written statement about a conversation with Tom Waterhouse.

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