Ex-Lion, AFL fans want action on betting

Retired premiership player Allen Christensen has urged government action on tackling sports betting with AFL fans growing tired of rampant gambling advertising in prime-time.

Results from an AFL Fans Association poll revealed 37 per cent of supporters are worried about the saturation of gambling advertising linked to the code.

It was the second biggest issue of concern to fans, only behind umpiring and rule changes.

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Christensen retired from the AFL in 2020 after 133 games for Geelong and the Brisbane Lions, including playing in the Cats' 2011 premiership.

He struggled with a crippling gambling addiction during his time at Geelong, leading him to request a trade to the Lions at the end of the 2014 season.

Now living in Tasmania, the 30-year-old is a passionate advocate of raising awareness for gambling help and previously hosted a podcast, Addicted to the Game, with his brothers and a close friend.

"I'm not in any way anti-gambling at all, but the advertisements are something that can be a lot better, and should be more scrutinised," Christensen told AAP.

"While the current rules are in place, they're (betting companies) going to keep exploiting that.

"It's got to come from a higher place and it's got to be the government that puts things in place that doesn't allow these harmful products to be advertised in such a fun, attractive way in prime-time.

"They did it with smoking around their advertising so there's no reason why they can't do it with gambling.

"When you get pumped full of ideas that gambling is only positive; they make it look like gambling is this jovial, fun thing where you're never going to lose, when that's not the actual product - the majority of people