The amount wagered on each AFL game in 2019 has moved close to $7 million per game as the popularity of sports betting continues to explode.

Industry sources estimate the figure based on data gathered on the more than 250 games - AFL, AFLW and JLT Community Series - now played each season.

The enormous figure indicates why the AFL takes the matter of betting on AFL games by industry participants so seriously with Collingwood's Jaidyn Stephenson suspended for 10 matches and fined $20,000 after betting a total of $36 on three games he played in this season.

The 20-year-old also incurred a suspended sentence of 12 matches which he will carry for the rest of his career.

The AFL maintains relationships with betting organisations in order to monitor betting activity with AFL legal counsel Andrew Dillon saying on Wednesday when announcing the penalty that the AFL audits the accounts of all players and league officials and receives information through various different means.

There are now games played in all parts of Australia and a game in China with different betting types available as well as betting on particular awards such as the Brownlow Medal now hugely popular.

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The AFL has come under fire for their connection to betting agencies however they have consistently argued the relationships help them monitor betting activity. They also have introduced stringent rules in relation to betting and access to officials on game day in recent seasons which ensures they are more likely to catch people who transgress.