www.abc.net.au/news, by Annabel Bowles, 7 August 2026
In short: Every NRL and AFL club has an alcohol sponsor this season, analysis by a research group has found. Labor’s proposed crackdown on gambling ads would ban betting brands on player jerseys and promotions in stadiums, but has been criticised for not going far enough.
What’s next? The media watchdog is due to hand down a decision on restricting alcohol ads on television during sporting matches in the coming weeks.
All NRL (Rugby League) and AFL (Football League) clubs have an alcohol sponsor this season, while every NRL and five AFL clubs are sponsored by gambling companies, a new report has found.
The findings from the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) also show that both leagues have deals worth tens of millions of dollars each year with sports betting companies, which see them make money on every bet placed on their games.
The deals reportedly amount to $50 million per year for the NRL and $30 to $40 million per year for the AFL, FARE said.
With alcohol and gambling ads also becoming more prevalent in the leagues’ women’s competitions, FARE said its research showed these sponsorships were “deeply embedded across every level” of Australia’s two largest sporting codes.
It comes as Labor’s proposed crackdown on gambling advertising draws criticism from all sides of politics, with the Coalition, Greens, crossbenchers and some of its own party calling for stronger reforms during a Senate inquiry on the issue this week.
Labor’s plan would limit gambling ads on TV to three per hour between 6pm and 8:30pm, on radio during school pick-up and drop-off, and ban logos on player jerseys or promotions in stadiums.
However, the Australian Communications and Media Authority is currently reviewing that rule and is due to hand down a decision in the coming weeks.
FARE’s State of Play report found that seven NRL clubs have gambling branding on their official playing uniforms this season — one more than the previous season — while betting advertising is part of 10 clubs’ match-day promotions and across 12 clubs’ digital channels.
Gambling sponsors are not on any AFL jerseys this season, but four clubs have digital gambling advertising and four clubs show betting ads at stadiums during matches.
Original news item with more details