THE AFL has been pulled into a new gambling dispute with a sports betting operator to face charges for offering inducements worth thousands of dollars to open betting accounts over two AFL-club linked betting websites. 

The Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation has confirmed it will chase charges against Betezy a sports betting operator that has partnerships with six AFL clubs in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on October 13. 

''The charges left down by the VCGR against Betezy Pty Ltd, and currently before the Melbourne Magistrates Court are that Betezy Pty Ltd apparently offered an inducement of $200 and up to $2500 in free bets to an account holder if they mentioned a friend,'' executive commissioner Jane Brockington said in a declaration. 

''The representation was made via a flyer endorsing the websites.'' A Betezy website advancement also says, ''refer a friend and receive $200, $50 cash upfront and $150 in free bets''.

At least three other sports betting hands have also faced charges in the past year for offering incentives to open an account. 

Online betting agencies have also been offering encouragements to account holders that have not made a wager in several months to get them betting again. 

Betezy general manager Ryan Kay said he was staggered by the charges. 

''It's a extraordinary one. We did not actually give an stimulus to the person, we have a referral program, so anyone who refers a friend we give them a little free bet bonus and they are saying that's an stimulus. It is a little bit of a grey one. I can't believe they are taking it to the subsequent level,'' he said. 

The charges come amid ongoing distress about the level of regulation and scrutiny of sporting betting operators taking bets in Victoria with all but two operators licensed interstate.