The Federation of Irish Sport has said the Government could increase sports organisations' funding by giving them money from taxes on betting receipts.
It says this already happens in greyhound and horse racing, and it wants the Exchequer to do the same for a broad range of sports that people gamble on.
Although the Government did not cut spending on sports in the budget, the Federation said that overall funding had decreased by 27% since 2008.
Its chief executive Sarah O'Connor said the Government would be getting more tax from sports betting this year - and should share it around.