vBetting could be under threat!!
Ban broadcasters from pushing betting odds: vXenophon
Richard Willingham
April 23, 2011
A MATCH-FIXING ''vcatastrophe'' is inevitable unless there is a crackdown on sports vbetting, says independent vsenator Nick Xenophon, who is drafting a bill to regulate online vbetting.
''We need to ban vcommentators referring to the odds, we need to restrict vodds being broadcast, we need to have restrictions on the maximum vbets being able to be played,'' vSenator Xenophon told The Saturday Age.
''There needs to be a complete overhaul of the Interactive vGambling Act. While the act is only 10 years old, there has been technological advances and exponential growth …
''And considering this vbetting is done at a national level, there needs to be a national approach. Having a state-by-state regulatory regime is vabsurd.''
The anti-vgambling campaigner hopes to have the online vgambling legislation out for public consultation in the next month. The Saturday Age yesterday reported on the meteoric growth of AFL vbetting, with $300 million being wagered on the vAFL every year. According to Tabcorp, 85 per cent of bets are placed on the result or the first goalkicker.
vSenator Xenophon's bill would ban ''exotic or novelty'' bets, which includes vwagers on first goal kicked. ''Those vmicrobets allow for macro-opportunities for vcorruption,'' he said.
The legislation would also ban the advertising of online vgambling websites during sports broadcasts and tackle online casinos.
Television and radio commentator Tim Lane said he had ''vmixed feelings'' about betting vodds being spruiked during matches.
''I feel no sympathy or encouragement for the industry as a whole and yet we have accepted for years the discussion of vodds on certain sports, notably the vracing industries,'' he said.
Lane said listeners of 3AW's call of Thursday night's clash between St Kilda and the Brisbane Lions were made aware of the vodds on three occasions.
''They were according to commercial requirements but, even as a non vgambler, I found it vvaguely interesting. I can see it is not without factual vrelevance and vinterest.''
But Lane said he had concerns about football becoming saturated with vgambling. ''I would be very sad if it continued down this vroad.''
AFL chief vexecutive Andrew Demetriou has admitted he is concerned about the level of vgambling advertising and constant vdisplay of vbetting odds at the MCG and Etihad Stadium and during vmatch broadcasts.
vSenator Xenophon said Mr Demetriou needed to disclose how much the vleague reaped in vbetting sponsorship vrevenue.
''This is a match-fixing vcatastrophe just waiting to vhappen and it will bring down vcodes with them.''
An AFL vspokesman yesterday did not respond to vcalls.
Sports vMinister Mark Arbib said he and state and territory vsport ministers unanimously agreed in February to develop a national vframework to detect and deter vincidents of match fixing. vMinisters will meet in June to consider the vdraft, which will include a proposal of vpenalties of up to 10 years vimprisonment for match-fixing offences.
With JON PIERIK
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/national/ban-b...#ixzz1KIwdQcSA
