Ashley Klein

[M j M]

This article, which includes comments from Klein confirming details about his addiction to gambling on horse and dog racing, is a bit of an eye opener -

NRL’s number one referee had $400k gambling problem

The NRL says it had no impact on his job as a ref but it raises a few questions, not least about judgement. 

Edited June 12 by M j M

[JohnM]

Bloody hell! 400k! At first sight, I'd expect someone somewhere to have noticed!

[Dunbar]

33 minutes ago, JohnM said:

Bloody hell! 400k! At first sight, I'd expect someone somewhere to have noticed!

Australian dollars though, so not real money.

[Damien]

It leaves some tough questions for a league that is so tied up with gambling and gambling companies.

[M j M]

Just now, Damien said:

It leaves some tough questions for a league that is so tied up with gambling and gambling companies.

The NRL makes more from gambling licencing income than SL earns from its TV deal. Add on top all the pokies and the non-stop gambling promotions... it's hard to avoid the conclusion that this is a sport which has a terrible conflict between making money and trading on the basic human misery of its own fanbase. 

[gingerjon]

4 minutes ago, M j M said:

The NRL makes more from gambling licencing income than SL earns from its TV deal. Add on top all the pokies and the non-stop gambling promotions... it's hard to avoid the conclusion that this is a sport which has a terrible conflict between making money and trading on the basic human misery of its own fanbase. 

The little I know about it: gambling in Australia is endemic to a level that makes even our bookies everywhere country look puritan

[Worzel]

5 minutes ago, M j M said:

The NRL makes more from gambling licencing income than SL earns from its TV deal. Add on top all the pokies and the non-stop gambling promotions... it's hard to avoid the conclusion that this is a sport which has a terrible conflict between making money and trading on the basic human misery of its own fanbase. 

I've never bought this line of argument

Gambling is a social problem, such that it is one. The gambling companies will find other ways to reach their consumers, if they can't advertise in rugby league. If society wants to address that then it can regulate, but until it chooses to then rugby league doesn't need to turn down money that others are still able to take. We're a sport, not a moral guardian. 

[Damien]

1 minute ago, gingerjon said:

The little I know about it: gambling in Australia is endemic to a level that makes even our bookies everywhere country look puritan

It very noticeable even on all the RL coverage and programs. There are mentions every 2 mins and dedicated gambling segments on the RL talk shows. Its just so second nature in a way that wouldnt be tolerated here.

[Expatknight]

43 minutes ago, Damien said:

It leaves some tough questions for a league that is so tied up with gambling and gambling companies.

But we are also tied up with gambling companies, our main Sponsor is Betfred, thankfully we don’t appear to have issues to the extent of our antipodean cousins, but historically the game has always been associated with things that are ‘bad’ for us, tobacco and alcohol being the main ones who have ploughed millions in over the years. 

[Damien]

29 minutes ago, Worzel said:

I've never bought this line of argument

Gambling is a social problem, such that it is one. The gambling companies will find other ways to reach their consumers, if they can't advertise in rugby league. If society wants to address that then it can regulate, but until it chooses to then rugby league doesn't need to turn down money that others are still able to take. We're a sport, not a moral guardian. 

I've never bought the idea that sports can just shrug their shoulders and say we're "not a moral guardian". They are and frequently put themselves in that position to be.

Sports make moral decision around sport all the time. Off the top of my head we have Football in this country voluntarily banning sponsorship from gambling companies next season, taking the knee etc. We have seen clubs and leagues take positions on racism, discrimination, domestic violence, inclusion, mental health and countless other social issues. The NRL itself dedicates rounds, campaigns and resources to many of these same issues and causes it believes are important.

The argument that if gambling is a problem then government should regulate it misses the point. Organisations make choices about who they partner with and what they promote every day. The NRL doesn't suddenly become value neutral when there's money involved. It's pretty difficult to say the NRL has no responsibility when it takes millions to shove gambling companies and betting temptations in front of RL fans, players and referees. If the NRL can take moral positions when it suits, and the credit for that, then it cant completely wash its hands of the consequences of the decisions it chooses to profit from.

[Copa]

1 hour ago, gingerjon said:

The little I know about it: gambling in Australia is endemic to a level that makes even our bookies everywhere country look puritan

You’re correct. It’s appalling here…

Slowly, very slowly, changes are coming. It’s my understanding (i can’t remember where I heard it ) that some current AFL and NRL contracts will be allowed to run out before it’s stopped.

https://www.pm.gov.au/media/strong-action-tackle-gambling-harms

The reforms will minimise children’s exposure to gambling harm by stopping the deluge of advertisements through:

• Restricting gambling advertising on broadcast television to no more than three ads each hour between 6am and 8.30pm, with a complete ban during live sport broadcasts within those hours
• Banning gambling ads on the radio during school drop off and pick up times (8am to 9am and 3pm to 4pm)
• Banning gambling ads through online platforms, unless people have a logged in account, are over 18 and have the option to opt-out of gambling advertising
• Banning the use of celebrities and sports players in gambling ads, along with odds-style ads targeting sports fans
• Banning gambling ads in sports venues and on players’ and officials’ uniforms. 

[Anita Bath]

Its OK though for him to ref origin II on wednesday. I must look up the odds on another red card for Queensland

If he owed 400k he will have some skeletons in his cupboard...he should never be allowed on a rugby league field again.

Interesting NRL kept it quiet...they obviously felt the need to hide this.

[Deadcowboys1]

4 minutes ago, Anita Bath said:

Its OK though for him to ref origin II on wednesday. I must look up the odds on another red card for Queensland

If he owed 400k he will have some skeletons in his cupboard...he should never be allowed on a rugby league field again.

Interesting NRL kept it quiet...they obviously felt the need to hide this.

You think he is alone either there or here?

Edited June 12 by Deadcowboys1

[Blind side johnny]

4 minutes ago, Anita Bath said:

Its OK though for him to ref origin II on wednesday. I must look up the odds on another red card for Queensland

If he owed 400k he will have some skeletons in his cupboard...he should never be allowed on a rugby league field again.

Interesting NRL kept it quiet...they obviously felt the need to hide this.

Was he doing anything illegal?

Would you like to list any other behaviours for which you would ban referees?

[dkw]

I would think its best to stand him down if only for his own mental well being, he really shouldnt be involved in the next SOO, the pressure and speculation he will be under will be immense.

[EggFace]

Saw the title of this thread and thought GET IN he has retired.

[Griff]

2 hours ago, Expatknight said:

But we are also tied up with gambling companies, our main Sponsor is Betfred, thankfully we don’t appear to have issues to the extent of our antipodean cousins, but historically the game has always been associated with things that are ‘bad’ for us, tobacco and alcohol being the main ones who have ploughed millions in over the years. 

The Vegas project is about improving gambling revenue from the US.  Spreading the game is much less an issue.

[M j M]

17 minutes ago, Anita Bath said:

Its OK though for him to ref origin II on wednesday. I must look up the odds on another red card for Queensland

If he owed 400k he will have some skeletons in his cupboard...he should never be allowed on a rugby league field again.

Interesting NRL kept it quiet...they obviously felt the need to hide this.

Nobody has said he owed anyone any money. He spent his own money on gambling. 

[Griff]

1 hour ago, Copa said:

You’re correct. It’s appalling here…

 

Are players allowed to bet on Rugby League in Australia ?

[Barry Badrinath]

4 hours ago, M j M said:

This article, which includes comments from Klein confirming details about his addiction to gambling on horse and dog racing, is a bit of an eye opener -

NRL’s number one referee had $400k gambling problem

The NRL says it had no impact on his job as a ref but it raises a few questions, not least about judgement. 

If youd seen the pic of him in catalans about 20 years ago pinned to the floor by warrington fans, you'd already know about his poor judgement 

[Copa]

14 minutes ago, Griff said:

Are players allowed to bet on Rugby League in Australia ?

No. Nobody involved in the NRL can gamble on anything connected to the NRL.

[Griff]

7 minutes ago, Copa said:

No. Nobody involved in the NRL can gamble on anything connected to the NRL.

Here, players and staff can't bet on any Rugby League worldwide.

[Welshleaguelover]

Obviously I can't name names, but an old acquaintance of mine used to work in the betting industry and had to deal with a couple of high profile NRL players, confirming their identities before they were given six figure gambling winnings.

Not implying match fixing, but the career trajectory of those two players made a lot more sense when you factor in that they were likely degenerate gamblers.

I'm shocked we haven't had more gambling scandals in the NRL. Speculation on my part, but I imagine plenty is swept under the rug.

[Welshleaguelover]

And not related to my previous post, but I'm convinced a couple of players had money on themselves to score tries in pretty much every game they played.

Josh Dugan had it written all over him.

[Trebian]

6 hours ago, JohnM said:

Bloody hell! 400k! At first sight, I'd expect someone somewhere to have noticed!

They can hide it pretty well.