Sporting bodies are defending their advertising deals with betting agencies as a parliamentary inquiry looks at reforms to the sector.

Bookies ad spending grew from $89 million in 2011 to $287 million in 2021.

Sporting codes argue the deals help fund grassroots programs but the Alliance for Gambling Reform chief advocate Tim Costello says the same argument was once used for tobacco advertising.

“We got rid of it and the sky didn’t fall in,” he told Bill McDonald.

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