Australia opener Usman Khawaja has requested the government to take a stricter stance against gambling advertisements. Khawaja said on ABC’s podcast that the younger generation should be protected against these influences.
“I think the biggest thing for us is responsibility to the younger generation. When I watch an NRL game — and I love footy, go the Raiders — I see gambling every single time before the game. I see the odds every single time.”
He also said that the younger generation should be made aware of the consequences of betting.
“Nowadays, I’m seeing 15-16-year-olds with betting accounts. They feel like they have to bet to enjoy sports. Sport and betting just go together, which is a bizarre shift. If we keep putting gambling in front of kids without showing the consequences, it can be a very slippery slope.”
A parliamentary inquiry in Australia produced a report about gambling and the harm it causes, which highlighted gambling as an emerging public health issue and gave several recommendations. Khawaja also said that he wants to reach out to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese regarding this issue and request him to implement the report’s recommendations.
Khawaja believes that everyone needs to work together to keep the future generations safe from this problem.
“I think we need to do more. I’d love to see very little gambling or gambling ads during sporting events. That’s something players, organisers and the government need to work on together to make sure the younger generation is protected,” Khawaja added.
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