Ashley Klein, the National Rugby League’s leading referee, has publicly spoken about a past gambling addiction. The match referee made the disclosure to The Sydney Morning Herald, which published the statement on the eve of one of the season’s biggest fixtures.
Klein Set to Referee State of Origin II on Wednesday
The admission came at a particularly high-profile moment. Klein has been appointed chief referee for the State of Origin II match, scheduled for Wednesday. The prestigious fixture between the New South Wales and Queensland state teams traditionally draws a massive audience, and the series referee is regarded as the league’s number-one official. His imminent appointment to the season’s centrepiece match gave the story additional weight.
Horse Racing and Greyhounds, Not Rugby League
The substance of Klein’s disclosure is as follows. The problem related exclusively to betting on horse racing and greyhound racing. The referee separately emphasised two key points:
- the betting never involved rugby league matches;
- his work as a referee, in his own words, was never affected in any way.
The distinction between his personal gambling problem and his professional duties formed the central thread of Klein’s statement.
“My Refereeing Was Never Affected”
In the statement provided to The Sydney Morning Herald, Klein was unequivocal. “It was not related to any betting on rugby league, and my work as a referee was never affected,” the statement read. The referee also described that period as difficult, but added that it “in no way impacted my role as a match referee.” The wording makes clear that Klein regards the matter as a closed chapter of his life.
Seeking Help and Closing Accounts
According to the referee, he sought professional help to address the gambling addiction and closed all gambling-related accounts. Klein described that phase of his life as challenging but resolved. He did not provide details about the form of assistance received or the precise timeframe involved.
The Loss Figure Reported by the Media
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Klein’s losses amounted to approximately $400,000. It is important to note that the referee himself did not cite or confirm this figure in his statement. The publication presents the sum without reference to a specific documentary source, and it should therefore not be treated as a fully verified fact.
The League Was Informed Seven Years Ago
NRL confirmed to The Sydney Morning Herald that it became aware of Klein’s problem seven years ago. According to the league, the matter was investigated and the findings “satisfied NRL management.” Chronologically, this means both the identification of the issue and the subsequent review date back to a considerably earlier period, well before the current season.
No Breach of Rules Found by the League
An NRL spokesperson stated that the organisation took the necessary steps to review compliance with its internal rules and policies. No breaches were found as a result. The league also separately emphasised that Klein’s position as a match referee was never called into question at any stage, and his appointments were never reviewed.
Gambling and Australian Sport
Klein’s story reflects a broader trend. Gambling has become noticeably more prevalent in Australia since the industry began its rapid expansion online. According to a number of review websites examining the online gambling market, much of the growth is linked to marketing tools used by operators. In particular, sites that compile no-deposit bonuses from Australian online casinos note that such promotions have significantly increased the influx of new users.
Those within the sporting world have not been immune to this trend, and the case of the NRL’s chief referee only underscores how the accessibility of digital gambling platforms heightens risks for individuals connected to professional sport.
Why NRL Declined to Comment in Detail
A league spokesperson explained that the restrained wording was due to the matter being an employment matter, making it inappropriate to disclose further details. NRL also referenced its systemic preventive work, which includes educational programmes for staff on compliance with rules and internal policies. The organisation declined to offer any further comment.
About the Author
