i enjoy a punt from time to time and the fact that it gets advertised to me all the time doesnt encourage me to have a bet. the NRL would make a large profit from gaming advertising, thus is why they would have it in their contract for the amount of advertising that is shown or spoken. you should also notice that some of the advertising money would go towards charities that are set out by the NRL.
Gaming and Racing plays a huge part in the total amount of revenue that cluba make and it is very much a nescesaty to our game. AS is any sponsor.
TABCORP - the number one sponsor of sport in this country had a 13.5% drop in profits within the last year but had an increase in advertising spend.
Advertising "hard" liquor during sporting events was banned years ago, as was cigarettes. I'd put gambling up there with just as much a social and health hazard as either of those. The commentators ram it down our throats at least 15 times in a game. All these odds probably won't affect the vast majority of people, but I have no doubt that it does with someone who has a serious addiction. You can't escape it now, it's like watching the greyhounds.
Irrespective of all of that, kids are growing up being told that gambling is systemic in our culture, so it's ok. There are very few sports in the world that advertise gambling like the NRL does. You don't see too many NBA, NFL, EPL, NFL, MLB games advertising sporting odds every 5 minutes.
I understand that this brings in money to the game, but IMO it's tarnishing the NRL brand and the vast majority of funds raised from that advertising goes to the networks, not the NRL.
Gambling can completely and utterly destroy peoples lives and the NRL by advertising these odds repeatedly are seen to be supporting that. I've had many casual followers of the game say they can't stand the broadcasts because of all the gambling advertising. It's hardly a healthy image for a game that wants to attract children to it and broaden it's appeal to the general public.
