Key facts
- Gambling company logos will remain on Australian sports jerseys until up to 2032.
- The Albanese government legislated a five-year transition period for these arrangements.
- Senator David Pocock described the situation as 'absurd' and called for earlier removal of sponsorships.
- Public health experts and gambling reform advocates have criticized the extended deadline.
- Some existing jersey sponsorship deals extend to 2028 and beyond, with one cited until 2031.
Children in Australia will continue to see gambling logos on professional sports jerseys until as late as 2032, despite the government's stated aim to reduce the link between sports and wagering. The Albanese government has enacted a ban on these logos but included a five-year transition period to allow sporting clubs and bookmakers to adjust their commercial arrangements.
This extended deadline has drawn criticism from public health experts and crossbench senator David Pocock, who deem it an 'absurd' situation that allows harmful marketing to children to persist for an extended period. Pocock specifically noted that by the time of the legislation's three-year statutory review, betting logos may still be present on jerseys.
Liberal MP Andrew Wallace argued that the five-year window was too generous, having pushed for a two-year deadline within his party room to allow sporting codes to find alternative sponsors. Communications Minister Anika Wells defended the timeframe, citing one sports club's jersey deal extending until 2031 and emphasizing the need to balance existing commercial agreements with the new regulations. She noted that while some contracts are longer, many are expiring soon.
Public health expert Samantha Thomas expressed concern over the government's perceived lack of urgency, stating that the extended period makes it difficult to believe the government's commitment to breaking the nexus between gambling and sport. Martin Thomas from the Alliance for Gambling Reform echoed these criticisms, suggesting the compromised reforms would have limited impact.
Several NRL clubs have existing deals with wagering or lottery companies, with contracts running until at least the end of the 2028 season. Specific examples include The Brisbane Broncos' deal with The Star until the end of next season, the Penrith Panthers' deal with Picklebet until at least the end of 2027, and the Newcastle Knights' reported deal with Palmerbet until the end of 2028. The Gold Coast Titans have a deal with The Lottery Office, which is exempt due to a carve-out for domestic lotteries. The Dolphins have a contract with Betr, and the West Tigers have a deal with NextBet. The Sydney Roosters extended their deal with UniBet in July last year, which also features on their women's team jerseys.