O'Farrell out to trump PM on sports betting The O'Farrell government is calling for a blanket ban on gambling advertising during live sports events, as well as a crackdown on online betting, saying Prime Minister Julia Gillard's reforms are "far too little." The Gillard government said on Sunday it would ban the spruiking of live odds during sports broadcasts, two years after it had promised to crack down on the controversial form of betting. But NSW Gaming Minister George Souris said he and the Minister for Sport, Graham Annesley, had been seeking federal government action since a meeting of the COAG select council on gambling reform two years ago. "I do not believe it is enough to only ban live odds spruiking during broadcasts, but allow generic advertisements for corporate bookies during breaks in those broadcasts," Mr Souris said. I am calling for a total ban. NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell. Mr Souris also called for action on internet gambling, which he described as "an even greater scourge, as there is almost no oversight whatsoever with adolescents and children vulnerable." "What the Prime Minister has annunciated regarding live odds spruiking is far too little," he said. In the face of enormous public and media pressure, Ms Gillard said the government would demand that TV and radio networks ban the promotion of live odds during matches. But it stopped short of banning gambling advertisements during matches, saying they may be broadcast during scheduled breaks in play such as half time in football and tea breaks in cricket. Under the new restrictions, broadcasters would be banned from promoting odds "from the moment that the players step onto the field to the moment that they leave the field," Ms Gillard said. All sports except horse, harness and greyhound racing are covered by the ban. Critics pointed to the many loopholes remaining and some described the new rules as a half finished job. The rules still allow live crosses to gambling representatives during breaks in play. The only change is that the bookmakers must be "clearly identified" and cannot be filmed at the sporting venue. Professor Samantha Thomas of the University of Wollongong said it was concerning that live odds could still be flashed on screens in stadiums, which end up "transferring gambling into the living room whether you like it or not." Anti-gambling campaigners in Federal Parliament, including Labor MP Stephen Jones, the Greens and independent Senator Nick Xenophon, wanted gambling advertising banned during children's viewing hours. Mr Jones and the Greens had drafted bills to that effect and Senator Xenophon wondered "why on earth won't the government go further to address this issue, rather than stopping a third of the way?" In a statement released almost immediately after Ms Gillard's statement, the country's broadcasters announced that they had accepted her demands. "These are unprecedented restrictions for broadcasters but we accept the government has acted in response to community concern," Free TV chief executive Julie Flynn said. The Australian Wagering Council also accepted the proposal, saying it understood there were "community concerns" and it did "not want children talking about gambling odds." Poll: What do you think of the federal government's plans to ban live odds and restrict gambling ads during sports broadcasts? Fantastic, it's a very good decision It's a welcome move but it should have come sooner It's good, but the restrictions don't go far enough I don't agree with the plan, the restrictions are unnecessary Total votes: 6229. Poll closes in 9 hours.