ARFL Tightens Wagering Rules for Journalists Covering Live Games

The Australian Rules Football League (ARFL) has reinforced its ethical guidelines, implementing new wagering limitations on journalists reporting on ARFL games live within Australia.

Licensed reporters and commentators will be prohibited from placing wagers on matches they are covering.

These updated regulations take effect this coming Thursday with the commencement of the pre-season competition.

The ARFL will enforce a five-hour “restricted period” on media personnel, commencing two hours prior to a game’s start and concluding three hours after its finish.

“For clarity, if you are reporting on a match live, you are still permitted to place a wager on that match outside of this five-hour timeframe – for instance, during the week, or before entering the stadium on game day,” an ARFL representative explained.

These fresh limitations were implemented due to certain media members, once within the stadium premises, being privy to confidential team data before the 90-minute cutoff clubs have to provide their final team lineups to the ARFL.

ARFL personnel are already barred from wagering on any match.