triple j has weighed in on betting agencies cashing on the Hottest 100, saying that they don’t encourage the practice.
In a news story by triple j‘s Hack, the station critiqued the various betting agencies for targeting their audiences, by offering bonus bets whereby if you bet a certain amount of money, the gambling agencies offer you free credit.
“It is concerning that gambling companies are aiming directly at triple j listeners,” said station manager Chris Scaddan.
“We cater to a young audience, an audience that is at a very vulnerable point of their lives financially.”
triple j directly mentioned a Facebook advert by Sportsbet that offered a $75 bonus bet if you make a $25 first deposit. Sportsbet responded to the station saying, “The Triple J advertisement would not have been seen by persons under the age of 18 and would not have been displayed in a ‘non-logged in environment’. Anyone with FB [sic] aged under 18 would not have seen this ad.”
Sportsbet, Ladbrokes, Tom Waterhouse and Palmerbet are all offering odds on the Hottest 100. On most of the sites you can bet for the winner as well as how many songs Tame Impala will have in the countdown or what position Major Lazer’s Lean On will finish in.
“We don’t encourage people to bet on the Hottest 100. If you’ve got some spare money, you should donate it to our partner charity, the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience,” Scaddan further said.
“Ultimately you’re giving the betting company your money. That’s all they’re interested in. They want your money, they want you signed up to their app.”
Scaddan concluded that he thinks the “majority of triple j listeners are smart enough to see through campaigns like this.”
The Hottest 100 will be revealed on Australia Day, January 26th, but voting for the poll itself closes tomorrow. For what it’s worth, Kendrick Lamar’s King Kunta looks to be the favourite to take out the poll.
Watch: Kendrick Lamar – King Kunta
