Radio banned from live odds on sport

Commercial Radio Australia has finalised an agreement with Communications Minister Stephen Conroy, along with the free to air and pay television networks, regarding live betting odds in live broadcasts.

Under the reform, live betting odds during sporting broadcasts will not be allowed from commentators, or from any other promotion whilst play is underway on radio or television.

The new reforms will be in place by January 2013.

Furthermore, any advertisements promoting betting during the live broadcasts of AFL, NRL, cricket, tennis, State-of-Origin, Premier League and other majors sporting events will also be banned. Senator Conroy said;

"The promotion of live odds during sports broadcasts can contribute to the encouragement of gambling, particularly amongst vulnerable people including children, broadcasters have agreed to amend their existing codes of practice to restrict live odds promotion.

"The principles that will underpin these restrictions are expected to be finalised in the coming weeks. Code amendments based on the Government's agreed principles will be developed by broadcasters in consultation with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and we expect to see them registered by the end of the year".

The next step that the government will address is to address the prevalence of live sporting odds being displayed at sporting grounds, through the scoreboards or from live announcers.