054/06
19 April 2006
Caborn Calls On Sports To Tackle Betting Cheats
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.
Those 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."
Notes to Editors
1. The Conference was held at Twickenham, hosted by the RFU and sponsored by the Tote and Betfair.
2. Code of Practice: Integrity in sports betting: a 10-point plan
3. Copies of the Gambling Act are available at: www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2005/20050019.htm
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