Am I reading this right? The AFL wants a bigger cut from bookies because of the integrity risks of being associated with gambling?

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/jul/18/afl-gambling-revenue-bookmakers-victoria-regulator-vgccc-ntwnfb

2 hours ago, sue said:

Am I reading this right? The AFL wants a bigger cut from bookies because of the integrity risks of being associated with gambling?

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/jul/18/afl-gambling-revenue-bookmakers-victoria-regulator-vgccc-ntwnfb

For manipulating results? Most betting would be at the line so could be easily done without impacting who wins.

So the AFL wants even more money from both bookies and gamblers, had a former umpire recently on the run, provides a draw that allows the most powerful clubs a distinct advantage (Geelong playing Richmond twice), has a free agency system that sees the better players almost always move to stronger clubs, a farcical academy system where rules are changed to suit (see Mac Andrews), and half of the remaining games now having no bearing on the finals and thereby even more ripe for manipulation. Don't even get me started on Michael Christian. I'll breathe.

But, in short, I've never been so disengaged in the game I grew up with. Love my Demons but the broader game is a shambles right now.

All under the watch of Andrew Dillon who would be better off running a Jim's Mowing franchise.

Good morning Demonlanders.

5 hours ago, Return to Glory said:

So the AFL wants even more money from both bookies and gamblers, had a former umpire recently on the run, provides a draw that allows the most powerful clubs a distinct advantage (Geelong playing Richmond twice), has a free agency system that sees the better players almost always move to stronger clubs, a farcical academy system where rules are changed to suit (see Mac Andrews), and half of the remaining games now having no bearing on the finals and thereby even more ripe for manipulation. Don't even get me started on Michael Christian. I'll breathe.

But, in short, I've never been so disengaged in the game I grew up with. Love my Demons but the broader game is a shambles right now.

All under the watch of Andrew Dillon who would be better off running a Jim's Mowing franchise.

Good morning Demonlanders.

Umm, I get a lot of what you're saying and also are not totally happy with the AFL.

But....

Richmond will play 6 teams twice AND the worse West Coast will too. A lot - maybe 10 - teams will get one of these bonus games, and maybe 2 will re-play both.

Do we get rid of free agency? Clearly players that have played years for basket case are gonna prefer an equal deal with a new team that's on the up rather push **** uphill for another 4 or 5 years.

AND while the finals race is exciting as a carpet commercial if anything the AFL would have tried to help get a few of the also-rans over the line in close games since May, say with dodgy late-game umpiring (and it's debatable whether that ever deliberately happens)

Gambling plus sport = corruption.

Just take a worldwide look at the many players and officials in cricket, soccer, boxing and even tennis who have been banned for illegal actions related to betting.

Organised gambling is often a form of organised crime.

10 hours ago, sue said:

Am I reading this right? The AFL wants a bigger cut from bookies because of the integrity risks of being associated with gambling?

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/jul/18/afl-gambling-revenue-bookmakers-victoria-regulator-vgccc-ntwnfb

Couldn't make this 💩 up !!

The hypocrisy is strong with this one (afl)

7 hours ago, Clintosaurus said:

For manipulating results? Most betting would be at the line so could be easily done without impacting who wins.

Umm, no! I promise you we don't go down this road. You know in cricket that it is/was possible to bet on whether the next ball would be a no-ball? The two teams score about 300 runs each; who cares about an extra run here or there, right? But suddenly there's 3 of them or batter is called back because of a bribed bowler's "slight' indiscretion and goes on to have the match winning innings ...... and both the supporters and punters would disillusioned later if the dodgy no-ball was revealed.

I don't know the footy equivalent of a no-ball but I'm sure a dropped mark, slightly errant ruck tap, a rushed handball or a poor ball drop for a set shot could be kind of disguised. I won't mention who as I in no way, shape or form believe this but recently a player rushed a shot at goal ... a defender marked it in the goal square. Because the forwards hadn't had time to set up the ball was slingshot back the other for goal and the "two-goal turnaround". From this one original miskick the opposition gained all the momentum and kicked maybe 5 goals in 10 minutes which was the difference for the day. I'd hate to see a player pocket a nice sum for what they hoped would be an insignificant mistake. (BTW what would be enough of a bribe if it risks a team loss, the player playing reserves the rest of the year or the respect of his teammates? Unless the guy's a complete mor0n it better be a lot to commit this felony.)

Anyway, as much I support some AFL betting I don't want the game's integrity among other things ruined by it.

The integrity risks become a whole lot heavier if they [censored] local wagering operators and dodgy off-shore operators start picking up market share.

AFL was the #3 sport in betting revenue last time I was involved in the industry, and that doesn’t include any racing code.

They haven’t got as much hand in negotiations as people would think.

you shouldn't use the AFL and integrity in the same sentence

On 18/07/2025 at 16:44, Go Ds said:

Anyway, as much I support some AFL betting I don't want the game's integrity among other things ruined by it.

Can one ruin something mythical, that is talked about but doesn’t actually exist?

16 minutes ago, monoccular said:

Can one ruin something mythical, that is talked about but doesn’t actually exist?

Integrity? Umm, of course the AFL's not perfect but here we are talking about the league on this website and watching games and probably doing other related stuff like watching panel shows. I'd say if the AFL got unbelievably bad suddenly they'd lose millions of fans. So, yeah, I'd say theres still some integrity.

Strange thing football betting.

Why does the AFL get money at all. The various outcomes on which wagers are placed are public knowledge.

Bets are put on elections but neither politicians or the AEC take a cut.

This is of course the AFL getting hopelessly entrenched with the gambling dollar just like the media.

Enjoy it while you can AFL because like tobacco and alcohol advertising it will be gone within ten years

Again it shows that all the AFL cares about nowadays is making money……….who cares about the quality of the game.

This league no longer deserves to be considered as the pinnacle of the sport, as it tarnishes most things that has made the game of Aussie Rules so great.