AFL Admits Inadequate Oversight of Online Gambling Integrity

The Australian Football League (AFL) has acknowledged severe shortcomings in its integrity system amid growing concerns over insider betting and manipulation of betting markets. Leaked documents indicate the league faces an 'unprecedented' rise in integrity risks linked to the surge in online gambling, with over 80 bookmakers now offering bets on its games. The AFL admits it has limited visibility into betting activities, often relying on bookmakers to report suspicious behavior, which has resulted in significant blind spots and delays in investigations. Notable integrity breaches, including an umpire leaking game outcomes and players sharing inside information, have highlighted the inadequacies of the current monitoring framework. In response, the AFL is proposing a major overhaul of its integrity system, which would include a centralized database managed by an external AI firm to facilitate real-time detection of suspicious betting activities. However, this initiative has sparked controversy over the AFL's close ties to the gambling industry and the implications for its integrity and public trust.