A 10 point plan to tackle sports betting cheats was launched by Minister for Sport, Richard Caborn today.
At
the first ever anti-cheating summit, the Government, sport and the
betting industry joined forces to help close the net on betting cheats.
The Integrity in Sports Betting Conference, hosted by the RFU
at Twickenham, saw all the major sports sign up to a Code of Practice
that will see unprecedented levels of co-operation between authorities,
the industry and sport.
The Gambling Act, which modernises the
UK’s gambling laws, comes into force in September 2007. The Act is
designed to protect the vulnerable and keep gambling fair and crime
free.
It will for the first time properly regulate online
gambling. It also introduces a more comprehensive definition of
cheating, with a 2 year maximum jail sentence and powers for the new
regulator, the Gambling Commission, to void bets where it suspects
unfair practices.
Minister for Sport, Richard Caborn, said:
“Sports betting has changed dramatically in recent years. Advances in
technology and increasing popularity mean there are now more ways to
place a bet than ever before. Internet and phone accounts now enable
people to place a bet at any time from any place, even after sporting
events have started.
“But we can’t let a few unscrupulous cheats
drag the good name of sport through the mud. That’s why I’m pleased
that from football to snooker sport now recognises the importance of
working with betting operators and the authorities to crack down on
betting cheats.
“This Code of Practice commits governing
bodies to creating clear rules governing their participants and better
sharing of information. This is essential to stop cheats prospering.”
The
10-point code of practice was drawn up by the Department for Culture
Media and Sport (DCMS), in partnership with the Jockey Club and the
Football Association.
hose governing bodies signing up to the Code will have to:
• Create provisions in their rules governing the behaviour of their participants in relation to betting
• Require
participants to avoid any situation that may involve a conflict of
interest with the sport and/or which may undermine the confidence of
the public
• Prohibit participants from misusing privileged information
• Co-operate,
and if appropriate, enter into information sharing agreements with the
relevant authorities (e.g. police, Gambling Commission)
• Proactively pass information on corrupt practices (e.g. race or match-fixing scams) to the relevant authorities
• Nominate a betting integrity champion with special responsibility for betting issues
The sporting organisations signing up to the code today are:
The
Football Association, Rugby Football League, Rugby Football Union,
England and Wales Cricket Board, Horserace Regulatory Authority,
National Greyhound Racing Club, Motor Sports Association, World
Snooker, Darts Regulatory Authority and the British Darts Organisation.
Many other sports will also be signalling their commitment to address integrity issues by attending the conference.
The
Conference was chaired by Paul Scotney, Chairman of the Horserace
Regulatory Authority, who has been instrumental in helping the
Government draw up the code.
Paul Scotney, HRA, said: “I’m
delighted to be chairing the Integrity in Sports Betting conference on
behalf of the Horseracing Regulatory Authority, who recently took over
the regulation of horseracing from the Jockey Club.
“We live in
a climate where there’s been a cultural shift, with betting having
become an acceptable leisure pastime with betting turnover on sports at
an all-time high. However people will only bet on these sporting events
if they can be confident in the integrity of the outcome.
“Where
there’s money to be won there will always be people willing to cheat in
order to win it, and obviously this issue has been one the horseracing
industry has been dealing with virtually since it began.
“As the
regulator of horseracing we’ve made great strides in our fight against
corrupt betting related practices, particularly over the last two
years, and I’m looking forward to sharing this expertise and experience
with the other sports regulators.”
source: rfu.com
