The AFL has seen plenty of scandals this year in the gambling industry. To do some damage control, the Western Bulldogs have launched a new program that will provide responsible gambling education to players. The Bulldog’s Hunter Lachie as recently implicated in a betting scandal but was able to avoid suspension.
His account was used to wager on an AFL game, and he escaped harsh penalties as a VFL player was the one responsible for the bets. Now, the club wants to ensure that this situation does not occur again. As such, the Bulldogs are launching a program that will ensure players are well aware of the AFL’s gambling rules.
According to the Herald Sun, one of the major concerns among AFL coaches is the ease access that players have to betting accounts. Registering with a bookmaker is a simple process, and players can make wagers from virtually anywhere now that online and mobile betting are becoming even more popular.
“There is an ongoing obligation on clubs to make sure players know the rules in relation to betting and there is also a broader obligation on clubs to understand they have a duty of care with the practice of betting generally,’’ says Peter Gordon, President of The Bulldogs.
“We as an industry have to understand these are young men who for the first time are on contracts which provide them with these levels of cash for the first time in their lives”. While it may seem like AFL players are primed about gambling rules, this is not always the case. It is important that players become well-acquainted with the type of wagering behaviour that is allowed among league members.
The Bulldog’s program aims to provide this information, and it should help to reduce the instances of gambling among players.
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