Bookies and Football Australia Fight Over Higher Betting Charges

Australia’s big betting companies have started to remove smaller soccer leagues from their betting sites as they argue with Football Australia (FA) about new gambling fee proposals. This fight could make soccer the most costly sport for bookies in the country, even more than AFL and NRL.

FA’s Match-Based Fee Proposal Could Make Soccer Australia’s Costliest Sport for Bookmakers

The deal between FA and betting companies like Tabcorp, Sportsbet, and Entain (which owns Ladbrokes and Neds) ends in late October. Right now, these companies pay FA either 1% of their total bets or 15% of their profits every three months. Experts think this deal has earned FA about AUD 9 million ($5.9 million) in the last three years, reports the Australian Financial Review.

The FA aims to revamp the model, suggesting that betting firms pay based on each match, 1% of turnover, or up to 15% of gross profit, whichever is higher. People in the industry say these changes could push total fees near 30% of revenue for some games, much higher than what other major Australian sports charge.

As a result, many operators have already cut betting options for leagues like the Victorian State League and NSW League Two. Some have even cautioned that A-League markets might be next if the FA goes ahead with the plan.

Bookmakers say match-by-match fees would create instability and make cash flow harder to manage. The FA claims the revenue helps grassroots and youth programs across the country. This argument happens as soccer viewership among young Australians rises, thanks to the Matildas‘ success at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and high broadcast numbers for domestic leagues.

Regulator’s Probe Adds Pressure to Football Australia’s Stand-Off with Bookmakers

The situation gets more complicated as Victoria’s gambling regulator now looks at FA’s integrity framework. This review follows two match-fixing scandals involving former A-League players. People who watch the industry say this close look has made FA more determined to ask for higher fees to cover increased monitoring and compliance costs. Bookmakers disagree, saying they already spend a lot on integrity systems and face growing regulatory costs across the country.

For FA, the talks have crucial importance. Despite record yearly earnings of $123.7 million in 2024, the group showed an $8.5 million net loss because of higher media, marketing, and staff costs. Gambling earnings remain an essential funding source for community-level programs.

Experts say the deadlock could change how Australian sports balance fairness, income, and market reach. If they cannot agree, state-level games might lose viewers and fans, while bookies could quit soccer to keep their profits.