Three New South Wales sports franchises have extended by up to two years their partnerships with the NSW Government’s Reclaim the Game initiative, which aims to challenge the idea that betting is a natural part of game day.
Under the initiative, Cricket NSW as well as A-League football clubs Western Sydney Wanderers and Macarthur FC will reject sports betting advertising at home games. Cricket NSW, which has extended its partnership for two years, will ban such advertising at all home games hosted by their men’s and women’s Big Bash teams as well as those hosted by state teams the NSW Blues and NSW Breakers.
Both Western Sydney Wanderers, which signed on for two more years, and Macarthur FC, which signed on for one, will ban sports betting advertising at all games they play at their respective home grounds.
“The extended partnerships are a strong show of faith in Reclaim the Game as sporting franchises realise the importance of rejecting sports betting advertising and promoting gambling awareness among their supporters,” said CEO of Hospitality and Racing, Anthony Keon.
“We now have 14 teams from five codes turning down sports betting sponsorships and making gambling awareness and education an important part of their work.
“Reclaim the Game is a great way to reach young men who are most at risk of gambling harm with an estimated 41% of regular sports bettors experiencing one or more gambling-related problems.
“Online sports betting is on the rise with one in 20 adults in NSW betting on sports and growing community concern that children and young people are being exposed to too much gambling advertising.
“Research shows that almost 50% of 12 to 17-year-olds saw gambling advertising on television during sports and racing events on a weekly basis and almost 1 in 3 young people considered betting on sports to be normal.
“Reclaim the Game is about getting back to what sport is all about – watching, enjoying and cheering on your team without intrusive sports betting ads getting in the way.
“We are so pleased that Cricket NSW, Western Sydney Wanderers and Macarthur FC will continue to reclaim the game and provide a family friendly environment for their fans to enjoy games without being bombarded by betting ads.”
RelatedPosts
