The NRL season has started without the governing body reaching a long-term agreement with bookmakers over the fee it collects for betting on matches as the code pushes for an extra $10 million annual windfall from wagering operators.

Fairfax Media understands negotiations between the NRL and some of the country's biggest oddsmakers have become increasingly fraught in recent weeks as League Central seeks to increase its current slice of revenue by more than a third from gambling on the sport.

The former product fee arrangements over how much tax bookmakers are required to pay the NRL to offer odds on games expired on March 1.

The previous accord was rolled over for a month and taxes will be backdated providing the parties can reach common ground.

The NRL has established a wagering sub committee headed by chief operating officer Nick Weeks and hired former New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing boss Greg Purcell as a consultant to head negotiations with bookmakers, who argue the NRL already charges the biggest tax of any code domestically even before the proposed hikes.