ICC moves to stop Channel Nine's betting ads
ABC - January 9, 2009, 12:12 pm
Channel Nine's cricket commentary has come under fire from the International Cricket Council (ICC) and anti-gambling advocates, who say the on-air advertising for a betting agency puts the integrity of the game at risk.
The ICC has stepped in to try to stop the practice.
The ICC refuses to have any dealings with gambling ventures and goes to great lengths to prevent players from betting on games after the damaging a match fixing scandal in the 1990s.
But Channel Nine has not been deterred by the controversy surrounding its decision to advertise betting agency Betfair during its ball-by-ball cricket commentary.
During the course of their commentary, Channel Nine's team has been giving viewers updates on the latest odds available from the betting agency.
Here is an example of the advertising, from one of the country's most recognisable cricket commentators, former Australian captain Richie Benaud.
"Just a note about the major turnarounds in Betfair trading today. We've taken a first innings lead, Australia were $1.24 at the start of play and they're now $5, so the draw might still be a decent bet," he said on-air.
The advertising tactics have stunned gambling opponents such as independent South Australian Senator Nick Xenaphon, who says it is inappropriate.
"Those revered commentators spruiking Betfair in the way that they have really undermines their credibility and has a potential to undermine the credibility of cricket," he said.
The ICC's president David Morgan is also disturbed by the television advertising.
"That is something that Haroon Lorgat, our chief executive has been in conversation with Cricket Australia about," he told ABC radio's PM program.
"I know that the whole issue of the discretion of odds, on current games being broadcast is something that Mr Lorgat has had some discussion with Cricket Australia about.
"What we are convinced about is cricketers are no longer assisting bet makers."
Cricket Australia has a sponsorship deal with Betfair, as has Channel Nine. It's understood Cricket Australia is pleased with its deal.
The network did not return PM's calls.
Senator Xenophon says the ICC needs to do more to stop what he describes as the blatant promotion of gambling.
"It's clear that what Cricket Australia is doing - cosying up with Betfair is bad for the game of cricket," he said.
"There are real dangers with Betfair's involvement with cricket, the very nature of Betfair where you can bet on a losing event, you can bet on someone playing badly, that opens up the game of cricket to corrupt events.
"The ICC really needs to go much further rather than just skirting around the issue."_Based on a report by Alison Caldwell for PM_
