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Questions over Tom Waterhouse odds during sports broadcasts

Bookmaker Tom Waterhouse will be called to a parliamentary hearing over spruiking live odds during Nine sports broadcasts.

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2013-03-27_0919More questions about the inclusion of gambling odds appearing in sporting matches are being raised today with a report that bookmaker Tom Waterhouse will be called to attend a specially convened parliamentary hearing.

Fairfax reports senators are concerned that the lines between bookmaker and sports commentator have blurred with his appearances during NRL coverage.

After paying $15 million to Nine, Waterhouse has been embedded with the Nine commentary team for NRL broadcasts, updating the changing odds but also giving his opinion on play. He also hosts a panel discussion with Phil Gould and Ray Warren on the next day’s horse racing form.

Senator Richard di Natale, a member of the gambling reform committee that will invite Waterhouse to appear, said the bookmaker was ”pushing the boundaries”. ”Young kids can’t tell the difference between a bookie and a commentator when they’re all standing there together,” he said.

Advertising by gambling companies is banned during the G-rated periods – but an exception was made for sport.

Last June it was announced that sports commentators would be banned from promoting live odds during sports broadcasts.

At the time the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Stephen Conroy, said, “The Gillard Government understands that 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, including by banning sporting commentators from mentioning live odds and banning all live odds promotion during play.”

  • Tagged with NRL

33 Responses

  1. Let me just say this. Nine is owned by two hedgefunds, Apollo and Oaktree Capital, they swapped Nine’s debt for equity and thus became Nine’s new owners, and considering how much money they spent to retain the NRL rights then i am not surprised, dissapointed yes, immoral yes, but surprising No. This is afterall business, Rugby League and Union for that matter are not exaclty ad friendly games. Once again not surprising

  3. @Jason – Tom Waterhouse’s ads do appear during SBS’ coverage of the Champions League though, which are usually broadcast live while we’re having breakfast in the eastern states.
    They certainly make me choke on my cornflakes.

  4. It says a lot about the current amoral state of the Labor Party and Coalition that there are no moves to ban gambling advertising on all media just as they did tobacco years ago. I think it would have overwhelming support from the public. Why hasn’t Nick Xenophon established an Australia wide party at state and federal level? It would actually bring together a very diverse group of voters and may end up with the balance of power.

  5. How great it was for my kids (tween girls, soccer players) to watch the World Cup Qualifier Aust v Oman on SBS, with not one bet, odds, or Tom Waterhouse in sight.

  6. I’ve seen those ads where Tom is in a suit showing off his upmarket gambling ideas. But at the end of the day he is still taking money from people who have such little chance of winning. It’s like taking candy from a baby. As I heard someone say once it shouldn’t be called “gambling”, it should be called “losing”.

  7. @ Jason @ MHA @IheartABC @ steveany 2.0 @ ricoz @ jimbo K @PJs Ronin

    “Wanna bet on that”?

    @ muscledude

    Whats the bet that Tom Waterhoue and his Lawyers are hard at it, searching for “Horse Hide” in footballs and footy boots and head guards etc, and also checking out the pies,sausage rolls and hot dogs etc. for “Horse Meat” from ex.race horses.

    @ MJL and @ joey 69

    Bet one or both of you are wrong.

    @ Wil

    Who set those odds, Tom Waterhouse perhaps?

  8. The odds of Tom appearing at the Senate enquiry are 40 to 1.

    BTW, this weekend the Centrebet Penrith Panthers are up against the Betezy Gold Coast Titans @ Centrebet Stadium.

    Maybe it has gone a bit too far.

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