Published
FinancialSports Betting

NRL to capitalise on legal US sports betting market

The National Rugby League (NRL), Australia and New Zealand’s leading rugby league club competition, plans to capitalise on the legalised US sports betting market, as reported by The Age.

melb melnd

Domestic sports wagering in Australia brought in AU$16m (US$11.8m) in 2017, with that number rising to AU$40m during the past league financial year amid the Covid-19 lockdown. But experts believe that cashing in on the US market could result in an increase of more than 50% of the code’s current wagering income within the next five years.

Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) Director Gary Weiss has been tasked with developing wagering products for the US market, with the aim of attracting overseas customers to bet on the NRL. 

ARLC Chairman Peter V’landys meanwhile believes it is a fantastic opportunity for the competition, noting that he previously raised the idea when he first took up the role. He also explained the idea to Chairs and Chief Executives of all 16 league clubs in a conference call last week.

“I raised this when I first became chair, that we were going to look at the US market of sport,” said V’landys. “We can see extraordinary potential in it.

“There was a $500 billion-plus illegal market. Well, each state is now starting to legalise sports betting and all the wagering operators are frantic, casinos are buying wagering companies because it’s going to be the big play in America.

“We want to get in there and there are various ways of doing it.”

The Commission will reportedly consult BetEasy Founder Matt Tripp, who is currently Chairman and Co-owner of Melbourne Storm.

When asked by The Herald if the idea could be successful, Tripp said: “Most definitely, if they handle it right they could tap into a very large and growing market that would see them generate incremental revenues from wagering that they didn’t expect to get at this time two or three years ago.

“Given everyone sees the US as a wagering gold rush, there is certainly an opportunity for the NRL to leverage their assets, package them up and distribute them to US wagering operators.”

Premium+ Connections
 
 
Premium

1xBet Partners

 
Premium

Sport Generate

 
Premium

Galaxsys

 
Premium

GammaStack

 
Premium

RISK

 
Premium

Digitain

 
Premium

Imagine Live

 
Premium

Lynon

 
Premium Connections
Consultancy

SCCG Management

Executive Profiles
VIP Play

Les Ottolenghi

Scientific Games

Keshav Pitani

Esportes Gaming Brasil

Ana Carolina Luna Maçães

LeoVegas

Mattias Wedar

Follow Us

Taking stock: Counting on crypto

Gambling Insider tracks the value of the biggest cryptocurre...

In focus: MiFinity

A trusted payments partner for the iGaming industry....

Panel: LatAm and crypto lead the way

During the SBC Summit Americas in Florida, executives from N...

In focus: Spayz.io

Payments that actually work for iGaming operators…...

A welcome from your host

A message from the Founder of the Global Gaming Awards and G...

From the Lead Partner

A message from BetConstruct - Lead Partner of the Global Gam...

The year in review

The Event Manager of the Global Gaming Awards reviews the mo...

Casino Operator of the Year 2025

We present to you the 2025 Shortlist for the Casino Operator...