Brownlow Medal betting gets go-ahead, despite integrity concerns

Collingwood star Nick Daicos is the bookmaker favourite to win the 2024 Brownlow Medal, with bet365 pricing the young gun at $6.

Daicos almost won the Brownlow Medal last year in just his second season, but an injury, which saw him miss several games effectively ended his chances.

Western Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli is on the second line of betting at $9, while Sam Walsh ($10), Neale ($11) and Christian Petracca ($13) are also receiving some love from punters.

Brownlow Medal betting, which includes both round-by-round betting and outright winner betting, will go ahead on the 2024 season despite calls from some quarters to ban it.

Responsible Wagering Australia said banning Brownlow Medal betting would be short-sighted and essentially send punters to offshore, unlicensed betting sites.

“RWA will continue to work with governments and industry to build on the strong measures our members already have in place that help stamp out any criminal activity and ensure that Australia continues to have a safe and fair onshore regulated gambling market,” it said in a statement.

“Banning licensed Australian providers from offering certain markets is not the answer, as Australians will instead be driven to gamble with offshore illegal operators who offer no consumer protections and don’t pay any taxes or fees that licensed operators are required to pay.”

Brownlow Medal betting has shot into the headlines in recent years after umpire Michael Pell was arrested following successful but unusual bets on the 2022 count.

Pell, who has not been charged wit any offences, is accused of sharing information with friends about who would receive three votes in certain games.

Australian online bookmakers, like Neds and Ladbrokes, offer both outright winner markets on the Brownlow Medal and most votes for each team.

Australian authorities are in the midst of considering changes to gambling advertising rules, with these receiving significant pushback from both sporting clubs and leagues, which is no surprise given sports betting is worth $8 billion yearly.

The AFL season will kick off on Thursday, March 7, with Sydney Swans hosting Melbourne at the SCG.

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