Tom Waterhouse joins the Sydney Swans

[Rod_]

Not the part of sport I am interested in and agree 100% Swans don't need betting or gambling!

Pleased that we have like minded people that say so!

Rod_

[Cpt. Kirk]

I don't like the sponsorship.

Gambling causes serious problems and shouldn't be promoted by a family club just as other adult things are not such as cigarettes. He should also not be clogging up swans tv with his segment which i pray is not on the website every week.

There is plenty of other sponsors and they dont have market updates on the swans website, it would be the same as citibank having a segment talking about their home loan rates, or QBE talking about packaging options for insurance.

[Meg]

Totally agree with Cpt. Kirk. Nor should Waterhouse be clogging up my personal email box with an unsolicited, personally addressed email inviting me to lay bets with him. I object to the Swans Communications team using my email address for this purpose and will be telling them so.

[jono2707]

I'm totally against gambling and I'll bet anyone 50 bucks that we'll be able to get the Swans to discontinue this sponsorship once their first contract runs out

[Primmy]

This is interesting. Three pages of mostly No Do Not Want posts in under a period of six hours.

How many times in the past have we said NO to a sponsorship? Never. I hope the club listens to us.

Also for those who are having difficulty, I just sent a "reply" email over the waterhouse one, it goes to a Swans email address. You may like to do that. Its a start.

I have also asked Jenny to perhaps run off this series of posts (all of them) and hand them over to Richard Colless....or someone. They may listen to us.

[Big Al]

The way people are reacting you would think Waterhouse ran a brothel and sold cigarettes to 10 year olds.

Where do we draw the line. Obesity is a bigger problem than gambling so where's the outrage over fast food sponsorship. Cars accidents kill many people every year so we should say no to car sponsorship. Insurance Companies and Banks in the pursuit of profits adversely effect lives as well so we shouldn't associate ourselves with these industries.

[Cheer Squad]

The way people are reacting you would think Waterhouse ran a brothel and sold cigarettes to 10 year olds.

Where do we draw the line. Obesity is a bigger problem than gambling so where's the outrage over fast food sponsorship. Cars accidents kill many people every year so we should say no to car sponsorship. Insurance Companies and Banks in the pursuit of profits adversely effect lives as well so we shouldn't associate ourselves with these industries.

We draw the line at gambling. It's not a family-friendly activity.

[Dosser]

I am impressed. I didnt know I would be in the majority in here. I think we have sold out by going down this route and aligning with a sponsorship that will legitimise gambling to juniors who follow the Swans. I am disappointed that we have chosen to accept this sponsorship. Believe it or not, there are plenty of sponsorship $ out there (the company I work for threw $5mil at Essendon). Some of you may remember when the government banned tobacco sponsorship and cricket thought the world was going to collapse. Surely, chasing gambling dollars is the wrong way to go.

And for those who believe it is the same as alcohol sponsorship - it is, and that shouldnt be associated as well. However, the AFL has already gone down that route and to a certain extent it is too late. We are only just starting here so now is the time to voice our disapproval.

To adapt one of Diettrich Bonhoffer's quotes, the test of the morality of a football club is what it does for its children.

[mcs]

I am not very happy about it at all either. I love to have a punt, don't doubt that, but I don't want it shoved down my throat by the club, and I certainly don't think our younger supporters should be exposed to it either. We still have far too much advertising of gamblign in this country for my liking. I have nothing against giving the people the opportunity to gamble should they choose to, but I don't think it is an activity a football club should be actively promoting. Most people can control their gambling, but for those people that can't, the negative costs of it can be very large indeed.

from me as well on this towards the club!

[DLBIA14]

The way people are reacting you would think Waterhouse ran a brothel and sold cigarettes to 10 year olds.

Where do we draw the line. Obesity is a bigger problem than gambling so where's the outrage over fast food sponsorship. Cars accidents kill many people every year so we should say no to car sponsorship. Insurance Companies and Banks in the pursuit of profits adversely effect lives as well so we shouldn't associate ourselves with these industries.

Exactly my point.

I can't say I'm surprised to an extent. Being a bit reflective, it's a microcosmic example of society's fickleness in picking what really matters and doesn't. Injustices are everywhere, travesties happen every day yet we are so selective it really irks me.

I'm sure for those who suffer a gambling problem the TW association may be hard to accept. However if they tell the club they're not interested in their betting advertising they'll remove them from their mailing list where appropriate. Nevertheless it isn't different to an alcohol addict. How hard would it be for them going to a game?

Very personal objections aren't exactly a legitimate reason to starve the club valuable sponsorship dollars. It's not like this club is exactly rolling it in. Over-the-top reaction and I'm a little surprised to be in the minority.

[Big Al]

I am not very happy about it at all either. I love to have a punt, don't doubt that, but I don't want it shoved down my throat by the club, and I certainly don't think our younger supporters should be exposed to it either. We still have far too much advertising of gamblign in this country for my liking. I have nothing against giving the people the opportunity to gamble should they choose to, but I don't think it is an activity a football club should be actively promoting. Most people can control their gambling, but for those people that can't, the negative costs of it can be very large indeed.

from me as well on this towards the club!

How is the club shoving it down our throats?? I thought you had to give permission to the club to receive third party offers. Admittedly I haven't seen the Swans email so was there an offer from Waterhouse in that communication??

[Meg]

How is the club shoving it down our throats?? I thought you had to give permission to the club to receive third party offers. Admittedly I haven't seen the Swans email so was there an offer from Waterhouse in that communication??

Big Al, the email came from the same Swans Communications email address that sends members all the team news, updates, etc. yet was worded as a personal email from Waterhouse (complete with his photo and a photo of him with the Swans boys) and it included the offer:


"My website, tomwaterhouse.com, will offer markets on every Swans match, including head-to-head, line and margin betting, and this special offer is exclusive to Swans members and supporters.


SWANS FREE BET OFFER.

Back the Swans prior to Round One to make the top four, and if they don't I will refund your bet, up to $50.
Click here now to place your bet."



I call that shoving it down our throats. And I assume it means that junior Swans members got the email as well. As others have said, the Swans are giving a message of encouragement to bet on their matches.

[Big Al]

Big Al, the email came from the same Swans Communications email address that sends members all the team news, updates, etc. yet was worded as a personal email from Waterhouse (complete with his photo and a photo of him with the Swans boys) and it included the offer:


"My website, tomwaterhouse.com, will offer markets on every Swans match, including head-to-head, line and margin betting, and this special offer is exclusive to Swans members and supporters.


SWANS FREE BET OFFER.

Back the Swans prior to Round One to make the top four, and if they don't I will refund your bet, up to $50.
Click here now to place your bet."



I call that shoving it down our throats. And I assume it means that junior Swans members got the email as well. As others have said, the Swans are giving a message of encouragement to bet on their matches.

Thanks Meg,
I'm pretty sure I ticked a box where I said I do not want third party offers from anyone. While I still don't have any issues with this particular sponsorship that email sent is unacceptable. Unless you're giving me a free VW I don't want any correspondence from our sponsors.

[CJK]

Companies and Banks in the pursuit of profits adversely effect lives as well so we shouldn't associate ourselves with these industries.

FYI - Cold War is over! You lost pinko!

[mcs]

Yep that is the email Big Al I didn't like! I don't like advertising of odds at games either (I believe that is going to be reduced this year), but I certainly don't like emails such as that.