Responsible Wagering Australia backs national match-fixing laws but seeks clearer boundaries

Responsible Wagering Australia has backed the proposed nationwide offences against match-fixing but told a Senate committee that clearer guidance is needed before the laws take effect.

RWA chief executive Kai Cantwell and Head of Policy and Operations Mike Websdane appeared before the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee on Monday. The industry body supports the Criminal Code Amendment (National Sport Integrity Offences) Bill 2026, which would create nationally consistent offences covering match-fixing, corrupt manipulation and misuse of inside information.

The Bill introduced on August 20 provides maximum prison terms of 10 years for the most serious offences.

“Those who deliberately corrupt or manipulate Australian sport for their own benefit should face serious consequences, and the law needs to give authorities the tools to hold them to account,” Cantwell told the committee.

RWA’s submission sought clearer boundaries between corruption and legitimate decisions that knowingly affect an event’s likely outcome.

Cantwell cited a Formula 1 team directing its drivers to swap positions and a coach resting key players before finals as examples that should not automatically attract criminal liability. RWA said coaching, selection, player-development and workload-management decisions must remain distinct from conduct influenced by an external payment or other improper benefit.

The organisation also raised concerns about the proposed definitions of “sporting event” and “sporting body”. It said a commercial endorsement, sponsorship or licensing arrangement should not bring an event within the offences unless the sporting body has a genuine governance or organisational role.

RWA wants the Attorney-General’s Department and Sport Integrity Australia to publish guidance before commencement, including criteria for identifying sporting bodies and clarity on events governed by international federations.

RWA said licensed wagering providers routinely use public information, market movements, statistical data and predictive models to price markets and identify suspicious betting. It wants confirmation that lawful trading, risk-management and integrity-monitoring work will not constitute improper use of inside information.

The body said regulated operators already report suspicious activity through arrangements with sporting bodies and AUSTRAC. Cantwell described offshore wagering as the leading integrity concern because betting outside the licensed market reduces the information available to Australian regulators and law enforcement. RWA has previously raised the offshore risk associated with wagering restrictions.

The Senate committee is due to report by October 2.