AFL club GWS Giants under fire for for gambling sponsorship

GWS Giants have come under fire for not conforming to anti-gambling sentiment in the AFL, with a senior government figure describing their partnership with the TAB as disappointing.

While AFL clubs, including Collingwood and Hawthorn, have cut ties with all gambling links, the Giants have gone in the other direction and signed a multi-year deal with the TAB.

ACT attorney general Shane Rattenbury, who is the ACT Greens Leader and Member for Kurrajong, has long been critical of sports betting and described the targeting of young men as “insidious”.

The TAB-Giants partnership includes players promoting the TAB via their social media channels, which includes over 120,000 followers, and plenty of young supporters.

“There is simply too much advertising during sport and young people, in particular, are significantly overexposed and are in fact facing saturation levels of gambling advertising, Rattenbury said.

“It’s not a healthy connection.”

The criticism from Rattebury is particularly poignant given the Giants struck a deal with the ACT government, which will see them play games at Canberra’s Manuka Stadium until 2032.

“The Giants are really going against the tide here and that is disappointing to see because the Victorian clubs have taken a very responsible approach,” Rattenbury said.

“The Giants are going in the opposite direction.”

GWS is on the third line of betting to win the AFL premiership in 2024, priced at $8, behind flag favourite Collingwood ($5).

The Giants ($1.78) are favourite to defeat the Magpies ($2) in their season-opener on March 9, at Giants Stadium.

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