• 62% of Australians surveyed would ban gambling brands from sports partnerships
• Agreements with alcohol brands also attract major concern from Resolve Strategic respondents

Australians are more in favour of banning gambling brands from sponsoring professional sport than fossil fuel businesses, according to a new poll conducted by Resolve Strategic.

The firm spoke to 1,611 Australians and found that 62 per cent of respondents would choose to ban gambling businesses from sports sponsorships. Only 25 per cent of those asked felt they should be allowed to sponsor sport, with 14 per cent undecided.

According to the Australasian Gambling Council, the total expenditure for gambling in Australia was estimated to be valued at AUS$25 billion (US$15.7 billion), with AUS$961 million (US$603.8 million) directed towards sports betting, during 2018/19. The industry has also paid around AUS$6.6 billion (US$4.1 billion) in state and federal tax for that period.

Tim Costello, the chief advocate for the Alliance for Gambling Reform, told the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) that sports partnerships enabled gambling firms to appeal to children, as well as gain more influence over sports competitions and grow their customer base.

He said: “The damage is that children’s minds are captured and they are being gingered up to be gamblers, and many of them will become problem gamblers.

“Really, it is a grooming exercise by these sports betting companies and we know that in places it has already corrupted sport, and as it continues to become more dominant, it will corrupt sport even more.”

Meanwhile, only 27 per cent of those polled felt coal, oil and gas companies should be stopped from striking sports marketing partnerships. By contrast, 51 per cent believe those firms should be allowed to, with 22 per cent undecided. This comes after Australian men’s Test cricket captain Pat Cummins said he would not appear in any future promotional content for energy firm Alinta Energy, a major partner of Cricket Australia (CA).

According to the SMH, Cummins – a major advocate for tackling the global climate emergency – had previously raised his personal objections to the partnership with CA chief executive Nick Hockley. CA has since denied that the national team captain’s talks with Hockley had any influence on Alinta’s decision not to renew its deal beyond 2023.

Elsewhere, Fremantle Dockers icon Dale Kickett recently called for the Australian Football League (AFL) club to end their partnership with oil and gas company Woodside.

Yet, despite the advocacy of several high-profile stars, according to Resolve’s poll suggest the Australian public are not as concerned about involvement in sports sponsorship from companies which actively contribute to global heating. Indeed, there was more support to prevent alcohol brands from sponsoring sport, with 38 per cent in support of a ban on that sector striking deals with rights holders. Specifically referring to alcohol brands, 18 per cent of respondents were undecided on their involvement in sport, with 45 per cent believing those businesses should be permitted to agree partnerships.

The findings come as sports sponsorship deals come under increasing scrutiny from athletes, as shown by the recent termination of Netball Australia’s AUS$15 million (US$9.67 million) deal with mining firm Hancock after protests from national team players.