Private school sports betting site reported to gambling regulators

A gambling website illegally soliciting bets on sporting clashes between Victoria’s most elite private schools has been reported to state and federal authorities.

The Associated Public Schools (APS) group of 11 upmarket schools says it has called in the state’s gaming authority and the federal communications watchdog to investigate the site apsbet.xyz.

The site, hosted by a domain provider on Melbourne’s outskirts, offers to take bets on the outcome of sporting contests between APS schools, which include Geelong Grammar, Brighton Grammar, Melbourne Grammar and Scotch College.

The APS boys’ football competition has become closely followed by AFL fans, as the schools look for a competitive edge over their rivals by harvesting the state’s best junior talent with the lure of lucrative scholarships.

The APS competition is widely regarded as one of Australia’s best junior football competitions and the schools involved field large numbers of AFL draft prospects.

The private schools compete against each other in 21 other sports, split into three seasons: summer, winter and spring.

It is not clear who is behind the website – which was taking bets on round six games for APS football, rugby and soccer on May 30 – and it does not appear to be registered with the Australian corporate regulator.

The operators of apsbets.xyz, who call their site “the leading platform for APS punting”, have not responded to attempts to contact them. The website was working on Monday morning but appeared to have been taken down by the afternoon.

The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission in 2023 banned betting on any sport where all the participants are minors.

A spokesman for the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) confirmed it was made aware of the website and was taking appropriate action.

“The Interactive Gambling Act (2001) makes it an offence to provide or advertise unlicensed regulated interactive gambling services in Australia – such as online wagering,” the authority’s spokesman said.

APS acting chair Ross Featherston, the headmaster of Brighton Grammar, said the group was seeking the immediate removal of the gambling website.

“The APS does not condone, in any way, this site,” Featherston said.

“The APS wishes for the immediate removal of this site and has been actively addressing this matter since becoming aware of the site last Thursday.

“The host provider of the site has been contacted as a matter of urgency, and we have referred this site to both the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission and the Australian Communications an