NRL probe over Mt Smart advertising

The National Rugby League is under investigation after repeatedly advertising an Australian gambling game on the Warriors' Mt Smart home ground - breaking New Zealand law.

The Department of Internal Affairs is in talks with the rugby league body after advertising for Keno Super Saturday was painted on the Mt Smart field for at least three of the Vodafone-sponsored team's home games this season.

Internal Affairs contacted the NRL last May, drawing its attention to section 16 of the Gambling Act 2003, which prohibits the advertising of overseas gambling in New Zealand.

An Internal Affairs spokesman said last night authorities had been in touch with the NRL and would continue looking into why it repeatedly had the logo included at the Warriors' home games even after the rugby league body was made aware of the issue.

"We're hoping - we expect - that the sign won't be displayed again," the spokesman said.

Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah told 3News the club had not appreciated that Keno - a New South Wales sponsor of NRL Saturday games - was one of those caught.

The department previously ordered the Wellington Phoenix soccer body to remove a Centrebet billboard from Westpac Stadium and the Newcastle Jets to remove the Centrebet logo from playing shirts.

Scurrah said the Warriors had passed the concerns over to the NRL as Keno was a competition sponsor, not a club sponsor.

The NRL told 3News there was a possibility the Warriors could lose Saturday home games in the future but it has not yet decided whether they will order the removal of logos before the Warriors play the Melbourne Storm on Saturday at Mt Smart Stadium.

- additional reporting by NZPA