AFL Website Features Sportsbet’s Multi-Bets Following Decision to Halt Television Commercials Amid Public Discontent.

Gambling giant Sportsbet recently placed ads for their expanded same-game multi-bets on the AFL’s website, which is interesting given that they previously withdrew similar ads from free-to-air broadcasts due to strong community opposition. These ads promoted betting on aspects such as how many possessions a player gets during a match and encouraged viewers to “bet now,” visibly dominating the AFL homepage. Although the ads didn’t breach any rules, Sportsbet had previously removed comparable ads on other platforms in response to stakeholder feedback on gambling advertising. This highlights concerns regarding the high failure rate for gamblers when it comes to multi-bets. The ad’s presence indicates the failure of the gambling industry’s self-regulation efforts, with calls for stricter government involvement and comprehensive bans on gambling advertisements.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/aug/03/sportsbet-advertises-multi-bets-on-afl-website-after-pulling-tv-ads-due-to-community-sentiment-ntwnfb