Australian sporting organisations brace for gambling ad ban

The AFL and NRL could be impacted by the federal government’s decision to ban gambling logos on jerseys and in-stadium signage.

Australia.- Sporting organisations are preparing for the impact of Australia’s upcoming gambling advertising reforms. The new measures, set to take effect on January 1, 2027, will ban betting advertisements during live sport broadcasts between 6am and 8.30pm and will ban wagering logos on player uniforms and within stadiums.

That latter move will affect the National Rugby League (NRL) as several high-profile teams currently feature betting brands on their kits. In the Australian Football League (AFL), clubs like the Brisbane Lions and West Coast Eagles have in-stadium partnerships with TAB and Crown Perth.

Both the NRL and the AFL have major partnerships with Sportsbet, valued at approximately AU$15m (US$10.3m) annually. Sportsbet says its deal with the AFL might remain intact. It’s also been suggested that the rules could affect the NRL’s targeting of a record AU$4bn (US$2.75bn) TV deal. Global, Media and Sports principal Colin Smith cautioned that “commercial revenues flowing in will be less,” potentially affecting the networks’ ability to pay high premiums for sports rights. 

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The AFL and NRL could be impacted by the federal government’s decision to ban gambling logos on jerseys and in-stadium signage. Australia.- Sporting organisations are preparing for the impact of Australia’s upcoming gambling advertising reforms. The new measures, set to take effect on January 1, 2027, will ban betting advertisements during live sport broadcasts between…