David Schwarz played 173 games with the Demons. Picture: Fiona Hamilton Source: Herald Sun
FORMER Melbourne great David Schwarz has slammed the AFL for being seduced by corporate bookmakers "grooming" children into gambling.
"I believe the AFL is drunk on the revenue they receive from gambling agencies and until that goes, we're in trouble," the 173-game Demons veteran and reformed gambling addict told Fox Footy's Open Mike host Mike Sheahan.
Schwarz, who played 173 games during an 11-year career marred by three knee reconstructions, also spoke about his $5m gambling debt born out of a $250,000 a week habit.
"My biggest issue at the moment is these corporate bookmakers are grooming kids into gambling. People will say, 'Well how is that happening?' When my (eight-year-old) boy comes up to me and says 'Richmond are favourites because they are $1.63,' we’ve got issues.
"He should know they're favourites because Jack Riewoldt is a bloody good full forward and Trent Cotchin's a great midfielder and they're up against Brisbane who have had their real battles travelling to Melbourne."
Northern Territory-based bookie Sportsbet, an official partner of the AFL, broadcasts live head-to-head and exotic bet type odds during Channel Seven's and Fox Sports' coverage of AFL games.
Corporate bookmakers have also infiltrated AFL clubs including St Kilda who wears Centrebet's branding on the back of its jumper.
Luxbet was the first online bookie to join an AFL club sponsoring Richmond in 2009.
The NRL last month reduced leviathan bookmaker Tom Waterhouse's role during live games after league bosses conceded he had blurred the lines between commentary and advertising.
The move went against a landmark multi-million dollar deal the bookmaker had signed to be a part of Channel Nine's commentary team for the 2013 rugby league season.
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