TLDR
- Australia’s ban on gambling logos on sports jerseys allows some existing sponsorships to run until December 31, 2031.
- Independent senator David Pocock and other lawmakers criticized the long transition window.
- Several NRL clubs currently hold jersey sponsorships with betting or lottery brands that extend past 2027.
- Domestic lottery operators are exempt from the new restrictions under a carveout in the law.
- The final December 2031 deadline was not part of the draft bill released in May and only appeared once the legislation was introduced to Parliament.
Australia’s government has introduced a law banning gambling logos on professional sports jerseys. The law includes a transition period that lets some existing sponsorship deals continue for up to five years.
Under the legislation, gambling branding on jerseys could stay in place until December 31, 2031. This gives sporting clubs time to phase out current contracts instead of ending them right away.
The Albanese government included the ban as part of a broader plan to reform gambling advertising. The main goal is to reduce how much children are exposed to betting ads during sports broadcasts.
Lawmakers Push Back on Timeline
Independent senator David Pocock said the five-year window was too long. He pointed out that some betting sponsorships could still be active by the time the law reaches its three-year review.
Pocock said sporting clubs should end their gambling partnerships voluntarily instead of waiting out the full transition period.
Liberal Party member Andrew Wallace also criticized the length of the transition. Wallace had originally backed a shorter two-year deadline but changed his vote on the final bill.
Communications Minister Anika Wells defended the five-year period. She said it was designed to balance the government’s advertising goals with commercial contracts already in place.
Wells noted that at least one sporting club has a jersey deal running until 2031. Other agreements are set to expire much sooner.
Current NRL Sponsorship Deals
Several National Rugby League clubs currently display gambling or lottery logos on their jerseys. Some of these deals run through at least the 2028 season.
The Brisbane Broncos have a sponsorship with casino operator The Star through next season. The club has not released its 2027 jersey design yet.
The Penrith Panthers signed with Picklebet in 2025, a deal expected to last until the end of 2027. The Newcastle Knights have an agreement with Palmerbet through the end of 2028.
The Dolphins have a jersey deal with Betr, and the Wests Tigers are sponsored by NextBet. The Sydney Roosters renewed their partnership with Unibet for 2025, covering both men’s and women’s teams.
Domestic lottery operators are not covered by the new rules. This carveout has drawn criticism from public health researchers.
Samantha Thomas, a public health expert on gambling harm, said the long transition period weakens the government’s stated goal of separating gambling from professional sport. Martin Thomas of the Alliance for Gambling Reform made a similar point about the grandfathering rules.
The December 2031 deadline did not appear in the draft version of the bill shared in May. It only became public once the legislation was formally introduced to Parliament.
The law now moves forward with its long transition window intact. How much impact the ban has will depend on when current sponsorship deals expire and whether clubs choose to end them early.
