- Audit revealed multiple transgressions in 2025
All 18 AFL clubs are officially on notice after an audit revealed a number of gambling transgressions across the competition in 2025.
The bombshell development comes as the league warned clubs about the danger of possible violations in a straight-shooting email.
News Corp reported the league sent out the mass message, reminding clubs of their obligations when it comes to players and officials.
The wagering audit from last year confirmed ‘multiple players and officials (were) in breach of the AFL Rules and/or VFL Regulations’.
Clubs were reminded all players are banned from betting on matches and should never allow other people access to their betting accounts.
Even promoting any form of gambling is frowned upon by the league.
All 18 AFL clubs are officially on notice after an audit revealed a number of gambling transgressions across the industry in 2025 (stock image)
The bombshell development comes as the league warned clubs about the danger of possible violations from players or officials
In a detailed email (pictured) the league confirmed ‘multiple players and officials (were) in breach of the AFL Rules and/or VFL Regulations’
In 2019, Jaidyn Stephenson was hit with a 22-match ban – with 12 matches suspended – for a series of bets he placed.
Some included fixtures the forward featured in for Collingwood.
Gold Coast Suns Academy product Rhys Nicholls then copped a two-game ban and was fined $5000 for 10 bets that totalled $256 in 2022.
Nicholls never played a senior game for the club.
What concerns the AFL is the rise of ‘Bets With Mates’ syndicates, which typically involve a group of friends gambling together.
The recent email was titled: ‘Reminder to AFL players and officials on gambling’, with the intention to reinforce the zero gambling condition outlined in contracts.
‘The 2025 Wagering Audit conducted by the AFL Integrity and Security Department (AFL ISD) revealed multiple players and officials in breach of the AFL Rules and/or VFL Regulations because they were not adequately educated or uncertain about their obligations in relation to the gambling rules,’ the email began.
Jaidyn Stephenson (pictured middle, with Collingwood stars Nick and Josh Daicos) was banned for 10 games in 2019 after it emerged he bet same-game multis on three Magpies matches he played in
Stephenson – who played in the 2018 AFL grand final for the Magpies – now works as a refrigerator mechanic
‘The AFL Rules (Rule 32.3) state:
A Player, Coach, Club or Club Official must:
(a) not bet or wager on any Australian Football Contingency;
(b) ensure that no other person has access to their betting accounts which would enable such person to bet on any Australian Football Contingency;
(c) not have an interest in any bet or wager, or have someone else place a bet or wager on their behalf on any Australian Football Contingency;
(d) not facilitate or assist the making of a bet or wager on an Australian Football Contingency; or
(e) not without the prior permission of the AFL, encourage, induce, advertise or promote betting on an Australian Football Contingency.
The league then pointed to gambling education training many AFL stars recently took part in.
‘This should all be fresh in our minds, having just completed the gambling education modules as part of the AFL PPM (Player and Personnel Management) training,’ the email continued.
‘If you have any questions about the application of these rules or regulations, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our P&C team and/or the AFL.’
The 2026 AFL season begins on March 5 when the Sydney Swans host Carlton at the SCG.
