Sport bookmakers seek safety in numbers against unfaithful

10 November 2010
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The recent decision by Pakistan's cricket authorities to suspend the central agreements of three gamers implies one of the summertime's most significant sport gaming stories refuses to go away.

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

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

"The accusations around the Pakistan cricket team and their UK see this summer have actually been so incendiary that they still remain 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 insider betting from within each sport.

It has signed memorandums of understanding with a variety of sports bodies - consisting of FIFA, UEFA, EPFL, the FA, DFB, ATP, ITF and WTA - and has actually established close relations with the IOC and numerous other sports regulators.
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"Nobody wants to bet on contests whose results they feel are rigged," states Mr Ali, discussing sports betting.

"The certified wagering market is determined to face the obstacles head-on."

It was a scandal 5 years ago which led to the development of this promotion code bookies' intelligence operation, one designed to monitor and dispatch suspicious wagering patterns.
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The body happened in 2005 following a scandal in Germany which saw a referee fixing games - the infamous Hoyzer case.

"That was a match-fixing scandal affecting German football matches and named after the referee Robert Hoyzer, who was condemned of accepting bribes," states 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 put on place in Germany on the repaired games.

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

Mr Hoyzer was subsequently jailed for his role in the scandal.

Information sharing

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

Essa represents certified fixed chances bookmakers such as Ladbrokes, Bwin and Unibet, but gambling exchanges are not part of the yohaig code organisation.

"Most of our members are listed on stock markets, so it is also in their interests to stop bribery, corruption and matchfixing," states Mr Ali.
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If there is a scandal, certified bookies can lose money as individuals stop betting and "the whole market is tarnished".

The Essa companies have actually produced a headquarters to share details and security and hand down information to sports organisations complimentary of charge.

"A great deal of work has been done in regards to developing and improving the way that sports and bookmakers communicate and work with one another," states Mr Ali.

'Safety standards'

Each Essa member uses odds on approximately 500,000 different bets a year, and each digests and scrutinises the electronic details it receives.

There are early caution systems in place, which he states, makes it challenging for bad guys to do uneven things online.
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"Every respectable bookie has their own safety guidelines.

"Online is well-regulated, individuals who come online leave a footprint and great deals of information about who they are and where they are," says Mr Ali.

"Technology means we are able to identify in real time when suspicious bets are bet."

Essa companies can utilize "stop losses" or wagering ceilings to prevent additional bets being put.

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

"We are building some momentum now and would like other individuals to come on board, such as state monopolies."
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'Little education'
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Essa has actually also developed a special code yohaig of conduct for sportspersons and women and is working with sporting body EU Professional Athletes.

Mr Ali has actually carried out face-to-face meetings with athletes in Germany, France and Spain, speaking about concerns such as match-fixing and wagering.

And it is hoped that Essa can further expand that work with the European professional athletes group next year.

"We have had gamers coming to us and asking us to help them," he includes.

"A few of them have had no, or very bit, education on gambling and sporting policies.

"We see young professional athletes, not betting very greatly, however going versus the rules of their sport."

And he states that a couple of sports do not even have a gambling recommendation in their standard procedure.

Denied misbehavior

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

Mr Butt and Mr Amir have lost their attract the ICC over the provisional bans, while Mr Asif has withdrawn his appeal.

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

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

'Challenges facing sport'

ESSA's Mr Ali believes that many of the problems surrounding sports gambling which have actually developed over the previous year have been connected with markets where betting is prohibited, such as the Asian sub-continent and East Asia.

"When you have prohibitions, gambling is driven underground into the black market," he states.

And he warns there is no room for complacency.

"The obstacles presently dealing with sports - and in specific how we deal with the stability issues - are so basic that if we don't handle them properly and quickly they could send out and the sports video gaming market - into decline."

"But if we understand the initiative, we truly do have the possibility to put the brakes on match repairing."

ESSA

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