Labor MP pushes for TV betting odds ban by Friday night

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/26/labor-mp-betting-odds-ban

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The Labor backbencher Stephen Jones is demanding broadcasters comply with the new rules on sports betting in time for this Friday night’s football or he will push forward with a private member’s bill seeking to impose a complete ban during children’s viewing hours.

Julia Gillard has given broadcasters two weeks to comply with new rules banning the promotion of live betting odds on television and radio during a match and confining all gambling ads to before and after the match and scheduled breaks like quarter and half time.

In provisions aimed at calming community anger about advertising during sports commentary, including by bookmaker Tom Waterhouse, the new rules explicitly require that “representatives of gambling companies … must not appear with the commentary team at any time and must be clearly identified as a gambling representative”.

Jones, who claimed strong caucus support for his proposed private member’s bill, welcomed the government’s announcement as a “big step forward” but said if it was not implemented by Friday he would push ahead with his bill.

Even though the rules fall short of his desired blanket ban on all gambling advertising before 8.30pm, they do extend the new restrictions to radio as well as television and to banner advertisements, logos and other promotions.

“I wish it did go further but it’s a big step forward and I want to see it in place by this Friday night. If it’s not I’ll be pushing to get my private member’s bill debated before parliament rises,” Jones told Guardian Australia.

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