Rugby league players reportedly might have their mobile phones confiscated on game day as part of the biggest NRL crackdown on gambling security in the game’s history.
According to a News Corp Australia report, the NRL’s integrity unit is working on strict new guidelines ahead of the 2014 premiership.
Also being considered is new photo identification for players, coaches and officials to restrict access to dressing rooms, the report says.
Despite the Ryan Tandy scandal in 2010, there is nothing to stop players or officials passing on last-minute information on team changes to punters or bookies leading up to kick-off.
Players, coaches, officials and managers are not allowed to bet on games but there is nothing to stop family or friends.
The News Corp report says the integrity unit has been working on more stringent security since the end of last season, with betting on rugby league increasing ten-fold in a decade to an expected $500 million this year.
The unit will put proposed new laws to the players’ association before the new NRL season kicks off in March.