Australian professional rugby league remains committed to distancing itself from the sports betting industry, as two prominent clubs in New South Wales (NSW) have announced an extension of their partnership with Reclaim the Game.
The National Rugby League
(NRL) teams, South Sydney Rabbitohs and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, have affirmed a three-year renewal of their existing collaboration with Reclaim the Game, an initiative supported by the NSW government.
At the core of this initiative is a pledge by both NRL clubs to refrain from showcasing betting advertisements during their home games. Instead, they will actively promote the Reclaim the Game campaign through various communication channels and undertake efforts to educate players, staff, and fans about the risks associated with gambling.
Blake Solly, CEO of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, expressed enthusiasm about extending their partnership with Reclaim the Game, emphasizing the alignment of the initiative with the club’s values. He highlighted their joint commitment to challenging the normalization of gambling within sports.
The initial engagement of the Rabbitohs and Bulldogs with the Reclaim the Game initiative dates back to 2022, a period marked by increasing public and political pressure regarding the prevalence of betting and gaming in Australian sports.
There are growing concerns about the societal impacts of gambling, particularly concerning problem gambling and related harms. The intertwining of sports and sports betting, particularly through marketing strategies, has come under intense scrutiny.
Aaron Warburton, CEO of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, underscored the significance of their partnership with Reclaim the Game in rejecting the normalization of sports betting advertising. He emphasized the importance of preserving the pure enjoyment of rugby league without the intrusion of constant betting promotions.
This ongoing separation between betting and sports in Australia unfolds amidst a backdrop of regulatory shifts in the country. Both the federal government under Anthony Albanese and state governments, particularly Victoria and NSW, have been actively pursuing regulatory reforms in the betting sector.
Alison Parkinson, NSW Director of the Office of Responsible Gambling, lauded the Rabbitohs and Bulldogs for their stance against the proliferation of betting advertisements in the NRL, emphasizing the importance of creating family-friendly experiences during game days. She highlighted the clubs’ role in raising awareness about the potential harms associated with gambling, aiming to protect individuals, families, and society at large.
