Peter V’landys, the influential head of Racing NSW and chairman of the NRL, has responded to recent discussions about gambling regulation, defending the average bet on NRL games as modest and arguing that proposed changes to betting incentives could harm punters.
V’landys, known for his outspoken views, pointed out that the average wager on NRL matches is just $16 and claimed that proposals to ban bookies offering free bets would only lead to punters losing more of their own money. The comments come in the wake of a parliamentary inquiry into gambling, led by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy, which recommended sweeping changes to gambling advertising and inducements.
The inquiry’s report, You Win Some, You Lose More, called for a three-year phase-out of gambling ads, a ban on inducements like free bets or credits, and a levy on online gambling companies to fund harm reduction efforts. V’landys, however, dismissed these recommendations as being driven by ideological views rather than evidence. While he acknowledged that certain gambling advertisements might need to be reduced, he argued that the overall findings of the inquiry were misguided.
“I should have stressed it was on all the recommendations,” V’landys told The Australian Financial Review on Monday, admitting he had been too focused on the gambling ban aspect without addressing the full package of proposed changes. He specifically criticised the proposed ban on gambling inducements, arguing that these were not harmful, but rather “generosities” similar to retail offers like “buy one, get one free.” Removing them, he claimed, would only result in punters losing more of their own funds, as these offers were a way to encourage continued play without additional financial risk.
An industry source also backed this view, stating that these “generosities” were essential for betting apps to remain competitive, as the odds are often the same across platforms. However, government sources have suggested that banning inducements will not feature in the official response to the inquiry, but instead will be looked at in collaboration with state and territory governments. The response is expected by the end of the year.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has proposed a blanket ban on social media gambling ads, but her plans do not extend to television advertising. Under her proposal, TV ads would be limited to an hour before and after live sports broadcasts, with no more than two ads per hour until 10pm. This proposal has drawn criticism from both the gambling industry and sporting organisations, which argue that it is too restrictive. At the same time, reform advocates, including the Greens and independent MPs, have called on the government to adopt a full ban on gambling ads, in line with the inquiry’s recommendations.
During a recent appearance at the 40th Asian Racing Federation Conference, V’landys also discussed his vision for the future of horse racing. He expressed a desire to use mobile apps and “gamification” to attract younger audiences, particularly teenagers. He cited the success of the English Premier League and the US National Basketball Association in engaging young people and lamented that horse racing lacked the “tribalism” that has helped other sports build loyal, long-term fanbases.
“The challenge for racing is to get to where other sports are: attacking the 14-year-olds,” he said, highlighting the importance of making the sport appealing and entertaining without relying solely on gambling.
V’landys’s remarks on gambling regulation continue to spark debate, with the issue of how to balance harm reduction and industry growth remaining at the forefront of the ongoing discussion.
Source: Financial Review.
