Australian Bookmakers Remove Regional League Matches from Betting Lines Amid Commission Hike

^{Pictured: Marconi Stallions, NPL New South Wales}

A dispute is escalating in Australia between the country’s largest betting operators and national football authorities. Major bookmakers — Tabcorp, Sportsbet, and Entain — have launched a boycott of regional football leagues, removing their matches from betting lines.

The conflict stems from a new policy introduced by Football Australia, which has decided to increase the fees required to offer bets on its competitions.

According to The Australian Financial Review, bookmakers are now being asked to pay 1% of turnover or up to 15% of profit per match, whichever amount is higher.

Previously, operators worked under a more lenient arrangement that brought the federation about AUD 9 million (approximately USD 6 million) in annual revenue. However, the old agreement expires on October 31, and both sides have failed to reach new terms. Football officials argue that higher commissions are needed to fund integrity programs and combat match-fixing, especially after a series of scandals in lower divisions.

Bookmakers warn that the new model is economically unsustainable and could lead to losses. For smaller competitions with limited betting volume, such commissions simply don’t pay off — making it easier for bookmakers to drop them altogether.

The boycott has already affected not only the federation but also dozens of clubs that are losing audience attention, sponsorship exposure, and betting-related revenue. Fans are also frustrated — they can no longer wager on their local teams.

If no compromise is reached, the entire structure of semi-professional and amateur football in Australia could be at risk.

Regional leagues are already seeing declines in income and public interest, while Football Australia faces the loss of a major funding source. Bookmakers have also warned that A-League markets — the country’s top-tier competition — could be next to disappear if the federation does not revise its demands.