Stephen Conroy bats for bookies, urges ads regulation

Former Labor minister Stephen Conroy is lobbying the Turnbull government for a reduction in wagering advertising.

Stephen Conroy, executive director of Responsible Wagering Australia. Picture: Aaron Francis

Former Labor minister Stephen Conroy is lobbying the Turnbull government for a reduction in ­wagering advertising.

Mr Conroy argues that corporate bookmakers are not just changing the perception of their practices but the way they operate.

He has dealt himself into the wagering reform debate in his role as executive director of Responsible Wagering Australia, which he took on in November last year as the spotlight on the sector ­intensified.

The group of bookmakers under the RWA banner, which ­includes Sportsbet and the James Packer-backed CrownBet, are ­advocating for less gambling ­advertising on TV, the creation of a national self-exclusion register, no inducements and the phasing out of credit betting.

“They are significant shifts in position for the sector,” Mr Conroy said in his first in-depth interview since taking the role.

The push by the corporate bookmakers to improve industry standards and change the ­community perception about the online sector has stepped up as they face heated opposition ­fuelled by rival Tabcorp.

Mr Conroy argued Tabcorp should focus on its core business given it was recently hit with a $45 million fine by the financial intelligence agency for ­failing to comply with rules to stop money laundering and terrorism financing. “It is extraordinary that a company with the stature and history of Tabcorp can receive a fine like that for serious breaches of Australian laws,” he said. “They should focus on complying with our anti-money laundering laws rather than throwing mud at RWA’s members.”

The former communications minister said the issue he was ­focused on was the need for a ­significant reduction in the level of advertising from bookmakers.

“When I was the minister I was confronted by a massive community backlash against advertising, specifically live odds advertising in the middle of the commentary of the NRL,” he said.

“I stepped in about five years ago and banned spruiking live odds during sporting contests.

“Today, that same level of angst has been building about the level of advertising and that is why our RWA members are at the forefront of saying they want the government to step in and ensure there is less advertising.”

Tom Waterhouse, the high-profile bookmaker who sparked the community backlash against advertising, heads William Hill’s local arm, which is yet to join RWA. Mr Conroy said he hoped others in the sector recognised the importance of the industry working together and being good corporate citizens.

“I’m confident over time we will resolve any outstanding ­issues and I would hope to see all significant players in the sector be a part of RWA,” he said.

Reform of regulations governing online betting became a top policy issue for the Turnbull ­government with the rise of Nick Xenophon, a strong advocate for tightening the rules around ­gambling.

The South Australian senator has argued against betting advertising and pushed the government to intervene.

Mr Conroy called Senator Xenophon one of the “cleverest” politicians in the country.

“I met him recently and told him he’d be surprised at how much we have in common, rather than how much we disagree,” he said.

Mr Conroy said the sector had a busy 12 months ahead, with movement on advertising soon expected, regulation around harm minimisation and discussions about a national point of consumption tax.

He said the group backed Scott Morrison’s intervention on the wagering tax issue. The Treasurer has called for a national approach to stop the states and territories implementing different policies.

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to get a uniform ­system across the country,” Mr Conroy said.

The former senator said it had been an education learning the sector’s issues.

“It’s a complex and in-depth sector ... the modern corporate bookmaker is a world class e-commerce company and most Australians don’t realise how sophisticated these companies are,” he said. “They are spending tens of millions each year developing new innovative technology. They compete for staff with Silicon Valley.”

Mr Conroy added it was a ­“little odd” sitting on the other side of the desk when he had to ­recently appear before a Senate inquiry.

“Having spent 20 years sitting on one side of the desk in Senate inquiries, it was a little surreal, I had senators from all parties quizzing me,” he said.

“It was quite a change from being the interrogator to being the interrogated.”

He said when the corporate bookmakers approached him to consider the role, they wanted to change not just the perception of their practices but change their practices.

“I said if they were serious about the changes they wanted to make then I was prepared to help,” he said.

What had pleasantly surprised him was a genuine commitment by RWA members to implement policy changes.

“They want to see a sustainable, long term, healthy, domestic wagering industry,” he said.

Mr Conroy said the industry had been fragmented in its approach and been on the wrong end of the perception that they were overseas bookmakers who contributed nothing in Australia.

“We have a circumstance where the perception of the sector in the past has been harsh, partly because some of the practices have been careless and sloppy in the past,” he said.

“That is why they wanted to make these changes and step up and say we want to be good ­corporate citizens and have a sustainable sector.”