The National Rugby League (NRL) will allow a controversial proposal under which the players of Melbourne Storm are permitted to invest in an online gambling company owned by the club’s Chairman Matt Tripp and News Corp.
The move, which can result in the revelation that Melbourne Storm has started discussions with the NRL salary limit auditor regarding its staff members and players buying shares in the online bookmaker, has triggered the wrath of rival rugby clubs.
Matt Tripp has been considered the pioneer of online gambling in Australia, as he was practically the one who turned Sportsbet into the second-largest bookmaker in the country, right behind the local gambling giant Tabcorp, before the release and sale of BetEasy. On the other hand, News Corp has been trying to find its place in the Australian gambling market after the FOX Bet brand turned out pretty successful in the US. Reportedly, it is mere weeks away from joining forces with Mr Tripp.
When contacted by local media hubs earlier this week, both he and the National Rugby League made the move seem less important. However, club bosses with knowledge of the deal have already revealed some implications that the club’s players will be given the chance to invest in a gambling agency owned and operated by the club’s part-owner and chairman.
The Controversial Deal Raised Moral Concerns about Integrity of Sport from Gambling
Matt Tripp has revealed that any deals would be done under the condition that individuals act independently and would not have an undue influence over one another but the National Rugby League noted that it does not have the power to prevent players from investing more money in whatever company they want. Still, the salary limit auditor has informed both Mr Tripp and the Melbourne Storm that players would not be able to promote the online bookmaker. They would also be required to provide some proof that they are personally buying the shares, and not the club, so the shares in the betting operator would not be used as a stimulus to sign new players.
Mr Tripp, however, has insisted that, for the time being, no one has yet made a commitment because nothing has been agreed upon yet. The partnership between him and News Corp could be officially available online within a few months, allowing the new platform to establish a market share before the spring racing carnivals that will take place in Melbourne and Sydney, as well as the final series of the National Rugby League (NRL) and the Australian Football League (AFL).
When asked about potential issues associated with the salary cap, he shared that he would not go into such a business without previously making sure that the National Rugby League fully understood all details and aspects of the situation. Under the rules of the NRL, all third-party agreements that involve players are required to be registered. However, such agreements are only included in the salary limit in case they are used as an enticement for signing a contract.
On the other hand, some have shared some moral concerns about whether NRL players should be allowed to become shareholders in operators that accept wagers on marches they play in.
- Author
Daniel Williams
