Betting ads on TV channel enrage spectators

“You’ve got families and kids here. Of course gambling is part of life, but I think when it’s a family cultural event like the Boxing Day Test, the advertising is inappropriate,” Costello was quoted as saying in the newspaper.

“The truth is we know that gambling addiction breaks up families, causes crime and comes at a huge social cost. When it’s a family event like the cricket, when it’s being broadcast live and kids are listening to it, it is overstepping the mark. It’s inappropriate certainly for kids at a family event,” he added.

Former Australia skipper Richie Benaud’s mention of the advertisement during his commentary has left the audiences angry, the paper mentioned.

Senator Xenophon feels that such activities “diminish the great game” and said: “Online gambling such as Betfair has the potential to deliver the next wave of problem gamblers. Gambling advertising ought to carry with it warnings, and we ought to be looking at restrictions similar to those that apply to cigarettes and alcohol.”

Cricket Australia (CA) and Betfair entered into a commercial partnership recently for the 2008-09 summer.