News

Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Australia considers betting levy for sports

As a result of the enormous growth in sports betting (estimated 1,6 billion AUS $), the provincial gaming authorities and sporting representatives seemed to have agreed in principle that the sporting bodies should receive a percentage of the betting volume on their sports.

A sports minister commnted: "What is being proposed is reasonable; nobody else on-sells a product for others to make money from without securing a return. I don't think anybody has a problem with that. “

Sporting bodies that are likely going to benefit the possible new law are Cricket Australia, Tennis Australia, PGA Tour of Australasia, Football Federation Australia, the National Rugby League and the Australian Rugby Union.

Some of the money would be used to protect the integrity of sport from betting corruption.