Australia’s Greens party says it will introduce legislation to ban all sports betting advertising, “the same way that tobacco advertising was banned” in 1992.

On Friday, the Greens announced their proposal to prohibit the advertising of betting odds, as well as so-called ‘cash for comment’ in which sports commentators integrate betting promos into sports-themed programs, and sponsorships of sports teams by gambling companies.

In 2013, Australia banned the on-air promotion of live odds during sports broadcasts but the Greens believe tighter restrictions are needed to avoid “tarnishing our iconic Australian sporting codes and normalizing gambling for our kids.” The Greens’ wider goal is to “stem the tide of sports betting before a trip to the footy is like a day at the races.”

The Greens’ gambling critic, Senator Richard Di Natale (pictured, not holding cigarette), who has previously pushed for a similar ban on radio betting adverts, said “sports betting, like tobacco, is an adult product” and needed to be treated accordingly. Di Natale said adults should have the freedom to wager as they please “but watching a game of footy shouldn’t be like walking into a casino.”