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Australian sports gambling promotion threat

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-05-27 14:17

CANBERRA - Betting agencies and television networks have been given 12 months by the Australian government to stop broadcasting updated betting odds during live broadcasts of sporting events, or risk having legislation brought in to ban it.

The Council of Australian Governments met Friday and issued a statement through its Select Council of Gambling Reform committee that it was concerned that promotion of gambling, "including commentary by sporting role models, is becoming insidious in live sports coverage."

During cricket broadcasts, for example, commentators which include former Australian captains break away from ball-by-ball coverage to give up-to-date odds from a gambling agency to reflect the current state of the match.