Brownlow betting scandal: Controversial game-by-game three-vote markets set to be outlawed

Suspicious betting activity on controversial game-by-game markets are at the heart of a Brownlow integrity investivation with significant changes being tabled for future awards.

Brownlow Medal betting markets vulnerable to corruption are set to be outlawed amid fallout from the AFL umpire vote leaking scandal.

The state’s gambling watchdog has asked the AFL to “report the findings of its investigation” into umpire Michael Pell and explain what action it intends to take “to ensure the integrity” of the game’s most prestigious individual award.

Suspicious betting activity on controversial game-by-game three-vote markets are at the heart of Victoria Police’s four-month investigation into Pell and whether he leaked Brownlow Medal votes.

Pell was one of four men arrested in November over suspicious betting involving matches he officiated.

He is accused of sharing information about secret Brownlow votes.

In one match where Pell was an emergency umpire, gamblers cashed in on Collingwood’s Brody Mihocek polling three votes in the Queen’s Birthday clash against Melbourne at the MCG.

The AFL must approve every betting market on the sport.

The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission has the power to take the markets away if the AFL does not act.

Former AFL umpire Michael Pell is no longer employed by the league. Picture: AFL Photos

The Herald Sun can reveal the VGCCC wrote to league chiefs about the Pell case in December.

“The Commission specifically requested the AFL to report the findings of its investigation of this matter to us, including any further action the AFL intends to take to ensure the integrity of the relevant sports event and any lessons learned in relation to more effectively managing wagering contingencies of this nature,” VGCCC chief Annette Kimmitt said.

“Once the AFL has provided its final report including its intended actions to us, we will determine what further action, if any, is appropriate.”

As a Sports Controlling Body (SCB), Kimmitt said the “AFL is able, through the agreements it enters with wagering service providers to restrict betting on contingencies or event types which may expose the event, sport, participants or officials to integrity risks”.

“To maintain public trust in sports events controlled by SCBs, the VGCCC expects they do all they can to ensure betting on those events remains free from criminal influence or exploitation.

The Brownlow Medal’s classification as a television event, instead of a sporting event, allowed punters to bet live on their mobile phone apps during last year’s medal count.

“This includes continuously reviewing, assessing and, when required, prohibiting high-risk wagering contingencies that may compromise the integrity of the sport they control.”

Sports Integrity Australia agreed the game-by-game three-vote markets were open to corruption.

“Any market where someone is aware of the result before it is made public is vulnerable to exploitation,” a spokesperson for the government agency said.

SIA said offering the game-by-game markets — where punters are allowed to bet on outcomes known by four umpires (three field and one emergency) — was a decision for the AFL.

Significant pressure has been heaped on the AFL to ban the juicy Brownlow markets this season.

Rev Tim Costello this month said rules that enabled gamblers to bet live during the Brownlow count — triggering an increase in turnover — had opened the door to potential Brownlow betting breaches.

Michael Pell is accused of sharing information about secret Brownlow votes.

“It is the AFL that chose to put the integrity of the Brownlow count at risk to duchess its biggest betting sponsors and ultimately to reward itself,” he said.

“It undermines its own rules and then cries wolf at an allegation of breach of integrity.”

Rev Costello said Pell had been “scapegoated so the AFL can shift the blame”.

In December, the Australian Communications and Media Authority also investigated whether Sportsbet had contravened the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 when it offered live betting markets during the vote count.

However, the Brownlow Medal’s classification as a television event, instead of a sporting event, allowed punters to bet live on their mobile phone apps during last year’s medal count.

The AFL refused to say if it would remove the contentious three-vote markets or when it would present its report to the VGCCC.

“The AFL continually works in line with all Government regulators and appropriate authorities to abide by all the respective rules and regulations with respect to wagering on Australian football. We are universally aligned with Government regulators and appropriate authorities on our commitment to maintaining the integrity of the game,” the league said in a statement.

“The AFL continuously reviews its operations to ensure best practice and protocols are implemented and applied in furtherance of that commitment.

“The AFL continues to work with Victoria Police on their ongoing criminal investigation and will keep the VGCCC updated as that investigation continues. The AFL constantly reviews its operations to ensure best practice on wagering and the maintenance of the highest levels of integrity.”