Tim Costello Criticizes NRL, AFL for Ignoring Problem Gambling

Gambling is recognized as a serious public health issue in Australia. The scale of the issue is evident, especially considering the annual losses to gambling hit AU$32 billion ($21.6 billion) based on data supplied by the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office. In that line of thought, meaningful changes are long overdue, and the time has come for action, an executive with one of Australia’s national advocacy groups that seek to reduce gambling harm, suggests.

AFL and NRL Profit at the Expense of Their Fans

On Monday, the Guardian released a new op-ed piece, featuring Tim Costello, the chief advocate of the Alliance for Gambling Reform. In the recent report, the executive spoke about a recent meeting he had with Australia’s prime minister, Anthony Albanese.

Moreover, he pointed to the growing profits of the NRL and AFL from gambling advertising. Costello wrote: “AFL and the NRL are profiting at the expense of their supporters and embedding gambling advertising so deeply within the games that a whole new generation of supporters are indoctrinated in the odds just as much as the code.”

In addition, Costello argued that the time for meaningful gambling reform is long overdue. He admitted that more needs to be done to protect Australians from the devastating impact of problem gambling.

The country has started a reform of its gambling regulations. A major part of the overhaul of the sector was an investigation into online gambling that resulted in a range of recommendations. While the result of that investigation was received by the Albanese government more than a year ago, much of what was suggested is yet to be implemented.

The government has so far introduced BetStop, a national self-exclusion scheme that helps people restrict their access to gambling activities. Further changes involve the prohibition of the use of credit cards for gambling, among other policies.

Yet, a nationwide ban on gambling ads, despite being one of the recommendations, is yet to be introduced. Amid calls for a blanket ban on gambling ads, the AFL may be among the organizations that are mostly affected. The League may lose an estimated AU$120 million ($80 million) annually if such a ban is imposed.

Albanese “Appears to Only See What He Wants to See”

Financial losses aside, billions are lost to gambling in Australia and families across the country are impacted by problem gambling. This reaffirms the need for a meaningful reform to combat gambling harm.

Despite the negative impact of gambling, according to Costello, the prime minister “appears to only see what he wants to see.” The Alliance for Gambling Reform’s chief advocate argued that Albanese “only appears to believe in the evidence that he is hearing from the gambling lobby, the big sporting codes and the broadcasters.”

Costello pointed to claims by gambling lobbyists who argued that Australia’s main problem is related to lotteries and poker machines and not gambling advertising. However, recent research suggested that the losses to poker machines have increased by 7.6%, while the losses to betting have soared by 55%.

“It is time for the prime minister to listen to Australians and not the likes of the AFL and the NRL or the betting industry, with their obscene salaries,” wrote the chief advocate of the Alliance for Gambling Reform.

Despite the calls for a comprehensive gambling reform, it may be a few years until Australia implements such changes. This is because contractual relationships between sports leagues and broadcasters may result in legal implications. Still, if lawmakers would consider changes on a nationwide level, such as a blanket gambling advertising ban, it would be difficult to challenge government-imposed regulations.