GAMBLING advertising should be banned during all sporting fixtures, a Country Labor branch says.
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Port Macquarie Country Labor Branch has written to federal politicians after members expressed concern at the pervasiveness of gambling advertising on sporting fixtures beamed into our lounge rooms during the summer cricket series.
“We urge you to ban any betting agency from displaying any odds before or during any game whether it be televised on free to air channels such as the cricket, or on pay TV,” the letter said.
“We also urge you to ban the advertising of exotic bets throughout games and any advertising by gambling establishments on any part of the ground visible to the public.”
The branch sent letters on Friday to Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Sport Minister Kate Lundy, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy, Lyne MP Rob Oakeshott, Denison MP Andrew Wilkie and Senator Nick Xenophon.
The branch called for a ban on gambling establishments from donating to political parties and a ban on gambling establishments from donating to sport of any kind.
“The Port Macquarie branch believes that advertising gambling in any form on TV and having it beamed into our living rooms, is making gambling appear mainstream, particularly to youth watching their favourite sport and those with a gambling problem,” the letter said.
The branch said many products were advertised during the recent Super Bowl broadcast in the US but none for gambling.
Any official association with gambling is banned on American television.
The branch believes the Prime Minister should take a stance and ask the Australian Crime Commission in its investigation of the problems facing Australian sport to include the banning of online gambling in all forms.
The Port Macquarie Country Labor Branch will make this an election issue.