Instead, the teams have chosen to join Reclaim the Game, which is a NSW Government initiative set out to tackle the belief that betting is a normal part of sport.
These two high-profile clubs now stand in agreement with teams from four other codes, all of whom have turned down sports betting sponsorships. There are also nine cricket teams from the A-League, AFL and NBL who are already including gambling awareness as an educational part of their game.
Blake Solly, South Sydney Rabbitohs CEO, commented: “Our community plays such a big role in our club, and we felt that this is a campaign we can support to reduce community exposure to sports betting advertising. Research shows there are long-term effects on families when sports betting causes gambling harm in the community and we feel the Reclaim the Game message is a positive for the fans and families that support our club and our sport.”
For Aaron Warburton, Bulldogs’ Chief Executive, the additional support for the initiative is a positive move.
Warburton said: “The contest, the rivalries, the skill, and the personalities within our game drive millions of viewers across the country to tune in. Rugby league is one of the most entertaining sporting experiences on offer. At Bulldogs home matches, we are extremely proud to be reclaiming the game for our members and fans. We believe that you should be able to watch and enjoy our great game with your friends and families without the constant advertising from sports betting companies.”
Natalie Wright, Director of the Office of Responsible Gambling, believes the NRL, more than other sports, is saturated with sports betting advertising and as such, a culture of change is necessary to prevent gambling harm within the community.
Wright praised the two teams and said: “We are so pleased to see the Bulldogs and Rabbitohs reclaim the game in the advertising spaces they control. They are leading the way in the NRL by calling time on sports betting sponsorships. We hope that other clubs and the NRL itself will follow suit so that fans can get back to what sport is all about.”
