Sources familiar with the negotiations confirmed the English giant has been invited to come forward with a proposal after securing the relevant “black box” due diligence documents from the NZ government.
The moves have cast doubt on the state of the relationship between the Rupert Murdoch controlled-media company and its latest joint venture.
The league said some staff being barred from joining tipping competitions was “just another measure we have put in place for integrity purposes.”
Big-time sport used the same alibi this week talking about gambling ads as they did when the community jacked up about tobacco advertising 30 or so years ago.
Gambling advertising has overtaken rule changes and umpiring as the most common concern for AFL fans,who have voted overwhelmingly in the annual AFL Fans Association survey for a tobacco-style ban on advertising at grounds and on TV.
Collingwood chief executive Craig Kelly has spoken of football’s responsibility to help young people avoid “making poor decisions” amid growing concern about the impact of gambling advertising in the game.
Teal MP Zoe Daniel attacks the AFL’s relationship with sports betting advertising,while Nationals leader Littleproud says new curbs on the gambling advertising were imperative.
High-profile AFL players,including Melbourne’s Ben Brown,have refused to have their image used by the AFL’s lucrative wagering partner,for ethical and other reasons.
Despite sports betting group PointsBet’s loss,revenue from its US business rose by close to 90 per cent.
The sporting bodies say bookmakers’ ad spending – which tripled in 10 years – boosts the value of TV rights deals that help fund grassroots sport.
PointsBet confimed it’s in preliminary discussions with new wagering kid on the block Betr about the sale of its Australian arm.