NRL Broadcast Causes Pokies Reform Controversy

Information given during a National Rugby League broadcast has created yet another controversy in the fight over poker machine reform in Australia, and has triggered an investigation by the Australian Communications and Media Authority.

The incident occurred during the Nine Network’s coverage of an NRL semifinal match on September 23. During the game, Ray Warren and Phil Gould provided commentary about the pokies reform debate, and on-screen graphics featured the website address of an anti-reform group.

Soon after the broadcast, Nine received complains from viewers about what many considered undisclosed political material on the television broadcast. Nine responded by saying that the comments were the opinions of the commentators, and not the network.

However, controversy was refueled when Warren stated that his comments were a “directive from the top,” implying that the network requested the information to be shared. According to a report in The Australian, the network later changed their statement to say that the commentary did reflect the network’s views on what they felt was a matter “directly affecting the NRL community.”

Two politicians who support the proposed pre-commitment reforms – independent MP Andrew Wilkie and Senator Nick Xenophon, have come out and criticized Channel Nine in what they say was a “misleading and alarming” attack on the proposed legislation.

The proposed reforms would require players to sign up for smart cards in order to play on poker machines that have maximum bets of more than $1. The cards would alert the machines to the mandatory limits players would be forced to place on themselves. While players would have lots of latitude on what those limits might be, they would be binding; once a player hit their loss limit, they would not be able to continue playing.

While the reform measures have been controversial, the public at large seems to be in support of the changes, with 61% of Australians favoring them in a recent poll – though that number has slid somewhat since the clubs industry has begun an aggressive campaign against the pre-commitment technology.