NRL imposes ban over Dally M betting scandal

The NRL has banned betting on the Dally M Awards following the scandal involving the 2019 coach of the year award, likely forcing bookies to refund thousands of dollars.

It comes after police charged the chief executive and general manager of a Sydney sports software company with using inside knowledge of last year's event to successfully back Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy to win.

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It's understood the NRL wrote to bookmakers on Thursday to advise them the Australian Rugby League Commission had ordered there be no betting on this year's Dally M Awards.

Sportsbet, the NRL's official betting partner, quickly closed its markets.

Betting opened before the season started and markets included Dally M player of the year in which Roosters fullback James Tedesco was favourite to win back-to-back medals.

A statement on the company's website read: 'Due to governing body regulations, NRL Dally M Markets will no longer be offered for the 2020 season'.

NRL integrity unit contacts police

The NRL integrity unit originally notified police on suspicious betting activity on the coach of the year award last year.

Late last month Josh Wilson, 29, and Ben Trevisiol, 31, were arrested by NSW Police who allege they knew in advance the winner of the coach of the year award.

They then allegedly used that knowledge to successfully bet on Bellamy, who was not the favourite, and passed on the information to others who did the same.

Wilson and Trevisiol worked for StatEdge, a company contracted by the NRL to provide the results of the awards.

It's believed bets as large as $10,000 were placed.

The pair are due to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on August 20.