Sport bookmakers look for security in numbers against unfaithful

10 November 2010

The recent decision by Pakistan's cricket authorities to suspend the main contracts of three players means one of the summer season's biggest sport gambling stories declines to go away.

Batsman Salman Butt and rate bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif are under investigation for alleged spot-fixing throughout Pakistan's trip of England previously this year.

They remain provisionally suspended from all cricketing activities by the International Cricket Council.

"The claims around the yohaig code Pakistan cricket team and their UK visit this promotion code summer have actually been so incendiary that they still stay in the headlines," says Khalid Ali, secretary general of the European Sports Security Association (ESSA).

'Confront obstacles'

Brussels-based ESSA was established by leading online sports book operators in Europe to keep track of any irregular betting patterns or possible expert wagering from within each sport.

It has signed memorandums of understanding with a number of sports bodies - consisting of FIFA, UEFA, EPFL, the FA, DFB, ATP, ITF and WTA - and has established close relations with the IOC and many other sports regulators.

"Nobody wishes to bank on contests whose results they feel are rigged," says Mr Ali, speaking about sports wagering.

"The certified betting industry is identified to confront the challenges head-on."

It was a scandal five years ago which caused the development of this promotion code bookmakers' intelligence operation, one designed to monitor and off suspicious betting patterns.

The body came about in 2005 following a scandal in Germany which saw a referee fixing games - the notorious Hoyzer case.

"That was a match-fixing scandal affecting German football matches and named after the referee Robert Hoyzer, who was condemned of accepting kickbacks," says Mr Ali.

"It was Odset, the German state-run betting monopoly, that lost millions in euros, as they were not able to track the bets being placed on place in Germany on the fixed games.

"But the licensed and regulated online industry, with its electronic audit trails, was untouched by the affair."

Mr Hoyzer was subsequently imprisoned for his function in the scandal.

Information sharing

Nevertheless, the scandal galvanised ESSA's charter member to attempt and produce a system where the licensed wagering sector and sporting authorities could interact "to share information on irregular and suspicious wagering".

Essa represents licensed fixed odds bookmakers such as Ladbrokes, Bwin and Unibet, but betting exchanges are not part of the organisation.

"The majority of our members are listed on stock exchange, so it is also in their interests to stop bribery, corruption and matchfixing," says Mr Ali.

If there is a scandal, certified bookies can lose cash as people stop betting and "the entire industry is stained".

The Essa companies have created a central office to share information and security and pass on information to sports organisations complimentary of charge.

"A great deal of work has been performed in terms of establishing and improving the method that sports and bookies communicate and work with one another," says Mr Ali.

'Safety standards'

Each Essa member offers chances on an average of 500,000 various bets a year, and each digests and scrutinises the electronic info it receives.

There are early warning systems in location, which he says, makes it hard for bad guys to do uneven things online.

"Every respectable bookmaker has their own safety standards.

"Online is well-regulated, people who come online leave a footprint and lots of information about who they are and where they are," states Mr Ali.

"Technology implies we are able to spot in genuine time when suspicious bets are bet."

Essa companies can utilize "stop losses" or wagering ceilings to avoid more bets being put.

"Once irregular betting has been recognized, this promotion code info is shared among the Essa group with an hour, and if shown to be suspicious, passed to sport federation," says Mr Ali.

"We are constructing some momentum now and would like other individuals to come on board, such as state monopolies."

'Little education'

Essa has likewise created a standard procedure for sportsmen and females and is working with sporting body EU Professional Athletes.

Mr Ali has performed in person meetings with athletes in Germany, France and Spain, discussing problems such as match-fixing and wagering.

And it is hoped that Essa can even more expand that deal with the European professional athletes group next year.

"We have actually had players pertaining to us and asking us to assist them," he includes.

"Some of them have had no, or really little, education on gaming and sporting guidelines.

"We see young athletes, not betting extremely greatly, but breaking the guidelines of their sport."

And he states that a couple of sports do not even have a betting reference in their bet9ja promotion code yohaig of conduct.

Denied wrongdoing

At present, the Pakistan case appears like dragging on for a while yet.

Mr Butt and Mr Amir have lost their interest the ICC over the provisional restrictions, while Mr Asif has actually withdrawn his appeal.

PCB main Zakir Khan said the players' contracts were suspended in line with the ICC's anti-corruption promotional code yohaig.

The innocence or regret of the players, who have actually denied any wrongdoing, will be judged at an independent tribunal, the date of which has yet to be set.

'Challenges dealing with sport'

ESSA's Mr Ali thinks that much of the issues surrounding sports gambling which have actually occurred over the previous year have actually been related to markets where gaming is banned, such as the Asian sub-continent and East Asia.

"When you have restrictions, gambling is driven underground into the black market," he says.

And he cautions there is no space for complacency.

"The obstacles presently facing sports - and in particular how we deal with the integrity concerns - are so basic that if we do not handle them properly and swiftly they might send out sport - and the sports video gaming market - into decline."

"But if we grasp the effort, we truly do have the chance to put the brakes on match repairing."

ESSA

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