ARFL Admits Oversight in Removing Anti-Gambling Campaign from Website

The Australian Rules Football League (ARFL) has conceded that taking down an anti-wagering initiative from its online platform was an oversight.

The ARFL withdrew the four-week “Cherish the sport, not the wagers” campaign from its website and social media channels after a mere seven days, citing a clash with its sponsorship agreement with betting associate Sportsbet.

The initiative, which showcases athletes from Victorian ARFL teams uniting to advocate for responsible gaming, receives funding from the Victorian Responsible Gaming Foundation (VRGF) and is presently airing on all major television and radio broadcasts in Victoria.

Despite the ARFL’s initial approval of the campaign, it failed to directly notify the VRGF of its decision to pull it. However, the ARFL has subsequently acknowledged that eliminating the advertisements from its website was a blunder.

“The ARFL has a longstanding collaboration with the VRGF,” stated an ARFL representative. “Recently, a digital initiative booked on the ARFL website was inadvertently taken down.”

“The ARFL anticipates continuing its partnership with the VRGF and promoting their crucial responsible gaming messaging across the ARFL’s channels.”

The VRGF was left disheartened by the action, which also witnessed the global sports platform ESPN withdraw the campaign.

“The vast majority of Victorian ARFL enthusiasts are apprehensive about the exposure of youth to sports wagering advertisements,” remarked VRGF chief executive Shane Lucas.

All ten Victorian Australian Football League teams have collectively opposed gambling sponsors, firmly stating their refusal to accept funds from wagering businesses.

This follows a recent disagreement with the AFL headquarters. The league had launched an anti-gambling initiative, “Love the game, not the odds,” which was subsequently removed from ESPN broadcasts. The clubs expressed disappointment regarding this removal but are prepared to accept the AFL’s clarification that it was an error and that the campaign will resume shortly.