Published
OnlineMarketingSports Betting

AFL mistakenly removes anti-gambling campaign from website

The Australian Football League (AFL) has admitted it was a mistake to remove an anti-gambling campaign from its website.

lto fhdtr

The AFL pulled the ‘Love The Game Not The Odds’ ad from its website and social media channels just one week into the four-week campaign, because it conflicted with the body’s Sportsbet sponsorship.

Funded by the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation (VRGF), the ad features players from Victorian AFL clubs standing shoulder to shoulder to promote responsible gambling. It is currently running on all the major TV and radio networks in the state.

The AFL signed off on the campaign, but did not directly inform the VRGF of its decision to stop it. It has, however, admitted it was a mistake to remove the ad from its website.

“The AFL has a long-standing relationship with the VRGF,” an AFL spokesperson said. “A recent digital campaign was booked for the AFL website and it was mistakenly removed.

“The AFL looks forward to continuing to work with the VRGF and continue to promote their important responsible gambling message through AFL channels.”

International sports website ESPN also pulled the campaign, much to the disappointment of the VRGF.

“A large majority of Victorian AFL fans are concerned that young people see an excessive volume of sports gambling ads,” said VRGF Chief Executive Shane Lucas. “This is not lost on the state’s 10 AFL clubs, which are united in saying no to sports betting sponsorship.

“It was disappointing that the AFL and ESPN removed the Love The Game Not The Odds campaign from their channels but we accept the AFL’s explanation that it was a mistake and acknowledge the commitment to reinstate our campaign.”

Premium+ Connections
Premium

RISK

 
 
Premium

Galaxsys

 
Premium

PIN-UP Partners

 
Premium

Digitain

 
Premium

1xBet Partners

 
Premium

GammaStack

 
Premium

Lynon

 
Premium

Revsharks

 
Premium

Imagine Live

 
Premium

Sport Generate

 
Premium Connections
Consultancy

SCCG Management

Executive Profiles
Zeal Network SE

Stefan Tweraser

VIP Play

Les Ottolenghi

Scientific Games

Keshav Pitani

Social & App

Spribe CEO exclusive: Simplicity is the foundation

Spribe CEO David Natroshvili speaks to Gambling Insider abou...

Redefining iGaming: A history of crash games

Crash games is a growing vertical that has taken gambling by...

A certain something: What makes crash games special?

Crash games. They’re simple, they’re easy to learn and,...

Smarter innovation to shape the future

Spribe CCO Giorgi Tsutskiridze discusses the past, present a...

Facing Facts: The corner of quarterly contemplation

With Q1 reports out across the industry, Gambling Insider co...

Taking Stock: A guide to key stock prices across the industry

Gambling Insider tracks prices from some of the industry’s...

15 years of Gambling Insider: From the Founders

Over the last 15 years, Gambling Insider magazine has interv...

15 years of Gambling Insider: The Awards over time

Global Gaming Awards Event Manager Mariya Savova gives us he...