This initiative offers a new avenue for National Basketball League (NBL) and Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) fans to watch the games without the presence of betting ads.
Liquor & Gaming NSW Policy and Programs A/Executive Director Natalie Wright applauded the Reclaim the Game partnerships for giving fans the opportunity to focus on the game itself without the distractions of sports betting advertising. She stressed the importance of challenging the normalisation of sports betting and advertising in sports.
The joint commitment from all NBL teams in New South Wales aims to predominantly target younger fans with the Reclaim the Game program.
Under this initiative, the Illawarra Hawks, Sydney Kings and Sydney Flames have committed to rejecting sports betting sponsorships, and working towards reducing the prevalence of betting advertising within the NBL and WNBL for the next two seasons.
Reclaim the Game conducted a survey revealing that 86% of Kings supporters and 93% of Flames fans find excessive gambling advertising concerning.
Sam Attrill, General Manager of the Illawarra Hawks, expressed optimism about the partnership's role in educating the community about sports betting and gambling risks.
Paul Smith, Chairman of the Sydney Kings and Sydney Flames, underscored the clubs' commitment to promoting responsible behaviour concerning gambling. Smith said: “It is our fundamental duty to support the well-being of players, community and sports integrity.”
The Reclaim the Game program, initiated by the NSW Government, has worked with 10 partners encompassing 16 teams across five sporting codes, including the AFL, NRL, A-League and cricket.
