The Aussie Rules top league really dropped the ball. They yanked their anti-wagering initiative from their site prematurely, even though it was slated for a month-long run. Shocking, right? This occurred just seven days after they inked a partnership with Sportsbet. Awkward much?
The initiative, dubbed “Love the Game, Not the Odds,” showcased players from Victoria’s AFL teams, encouraging supporters to gamble responsibly. It was bankrolled by the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation (VRGF) and remains visible on television and radio statewide.
The AFL confessed to blundering by pulling the advertisement from their website. They claimed it was an error and that they remain committed to collaborating with the VRGF to champion responsible gambling.
However, the VRGF wasn’t thrilled, particularly since ESPN also scrubbed the initiative from their global sports site. Shane Lucas, the VRGF’s chief, highlighted that a majority of AFL enthusiasts in Victoria are concerned about young individuals being inundated with sports betting promotions.
The ten Victorian Australian Football League teams have adopted a position opposing wagering on sporting events, declining financial support from these businesses.
They did recognize the AFL’s recent blunder in removing the “Appreciate the game, not the odds” initiative from their platforms and ESPN. Nevertheless, they understood the AFL’s clarification that it was an accidental oversight and were glad the organization pledged to restore the campaign.