AFL backs payout limits for Brownlow Medal betting

The Australian Football League (AFL) has thrown its support behind a $250 payout limit for round-by-round betting on the 2023 Brownlow Medal count.

The new regulatory measures also include a total ban on AFL participants placing bets on voting for the competition’s most prestigious individual award.

“We have determined the AFL’s control improvements are adequate and determined a prohibition on the 2023 Brownlow round-by-round voting is not required at this time,” said Fran Thorn, chair of the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission.

“We are satisfied with the immediate control improvements, but will continue to monitor the implementation of additional priority measures, including a real-time transaction monitoring system, the prohibition of betting providers over compliance concerns, a monthly audit of unapproved bet types and the categorising of vulnerable player groups at a higher risk of being compromised, such as young players and those at the end of their careers.”

The safeguards come as a result of integrity issues surrounding last year’s Brownlow Medal count.

Authorities are still investigating suspicious betting patterns in relation to at least 10 home-and-away games officiated by Michael Pell in 2022.

Pell, who is no longer an AFL umpire, was one of four men arrested by Victoria Police in November last year as part of the investigations.

Online bookmakers have this year’s Brownlow Medal pegged as a three-horse race between Western Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli ($3), Collingwood’s Nick Daicos ($3.25), and Melbourne’s Christian Petracca ($4).

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