The broadcasting watchdog will investigate a complaint that two football commentators on the Nine Network criticised the federal government's pokies reforms during an NRL final.
The Australian Communications Media Authority (ACMA) on Tuesday confirmed an open investigation into the September 23 rugby league commentary of Ray Warren and Phil Gould.
"Channel Nine broadcast political material without adequately identifying it as such during the NRL first preliminary final," ACMA said in a statement.
"Because this complaint relates to a licence condition, rather than to a code clause, the complaint could be made directly to the ACMA without first being directed to the broadcaster."
An ACMA spokesman told AAP the identity of the complainant was confidential.
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"The only way these things come out normally is if the person who made the complaint comes out and says (so) or at the end of the investigation when the findings are published," ACMA said.
Tasmanian MP Andrew Wilkie and South Australian senator Nick Xenophon sent a three-page letter of complaint to Nine boss David Gyngell on Monday.
The pair believe the commentary was aimed at "misleading and alarming" viewers. It's believed the ACMA investigation could take months. If the complaint is upheld the network could face the imposition of strict conditions on its broadcasting licence.
In an unlikely worst-case scenario its licence could be suspended. ACMA will publish a report on the matter once the investigation is finalised.
Mr Wilkie told reporters in Canberra the Nine Network stood accused of "some quite serious misconduct".
"It was not just passing chatter by a couple of football commentators ... to me it was clearly, a scripted segment," he said.
"I don't think they could have done that without Channel Nine being compliant in some way."
As Warren and Gould made their comments about the government plan - during the preliminary final between Manly and Brisbane - a graphic appeared with a link to a website opposing the reforms.
Warren has admitted the remarks were a "directive from up top" of Nine's management.
The government's plan to adopt mandatory pre-commitment systems for high-intensity poker machines has attracted strong opposition from registered clubs.
The scheme, intended to limit the losses of problem gamblers, was part of Labor's deal with Mr Wilkie in exchange for his support of the Gillard minority government.
Under the reforms, pokie machines will be reprogrammed to cap losses at $120 an hour rather than $1200 an hour.
Lower-intensity machines will not require any form of pre-commitment. Meanwhile, Treasurer Wayne Swan has defended reports he and his older brother are feuding over the reforms.
Ian Swan, who is involved with the Coolum Surf Life Saving Club, said the reforms would have a huge impact on small clubs, News Ltd reported.
The treasurer questioned the report's accuracy. "My relationship with my brother is very strong," Mr Swan told Sky News, adding he did not accept the assertions in the article.
"I've spoken to my brother this morning and he said it wasn't an accurate reflection of his views."
Mr Swan added he was a strong supporter of community clubs, as well as the government's plans to tackle problem gambling.
The NRL, Nine and Clubs Australia all denied the comments were paid for.
