Aussie NRL and bookmakers - still no agreement on fees

The Australian National Rugby League season has commenced, still with no agreement on new fees from bookmakers, prompting the parties to agree to a temporary roll-over of current arrangements.

The parties have been locked in negotiations for months following proposals by the NRL that it be paid A$10 million annually, an increase in revenue from bookies of almost a third.

Bookmakers, especially those offering online facilities, are already fighting to remain profitable due to increased regulatory restrictions and the threat of point of consumption taxation being imposed in various Australian provinces. They point out that in their bid for more revenue the NRL faces the risk of killing the goose that lays the golden egg, or at least ending up with less than they anticipate as bookmakers have to adjust their offers to punters to compensate for high NRL fees.

The Canberra Times reports that bookmakers are additionally complaining that the NRL already charges the biggest tax of any code domestically even before the proposed hikes.

The NRL already has an official wagering partner in Sportsbet, whose deal is not due to expire until the end of 2020.