sport-bookmakers-seek-safety-in-numbers-versus-cheating

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Sport bookies seek safety in numbers against unfaithful

10 November 2010

The recent choice by Pakistan's cricket authorities to suspend the central contracts of 3 players suggests among the summertime's biggest sport betting stories refuses to disappear.

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

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

"The claims around the Pakistan cricket group and their UK go to this summer season have been so incendiary that they still stay in the headlines," says Khalid Ali, secretary general of the European Sports Security Association (ESSA).
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'Confront challenges'

Brussels-based ESSA was set up by leading online sports book operators in Europe to monitor any irregular betting patterns or possible expert wagering from within each sport.

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

"Nobody desires to wager on contests whose outcomes they feel are rigged," states Mr Ali, speaking about sports betting.

"The licensed betting market is determined to confront the obstacles head-on."

It was a five years ago which caused the development of this promotion code bookmakers' intelligence operation, one created to keep an eye on and dispatch suspicious wagering patterns.

The body happened in 2005 following a scandal in Germany which saw a referee repairing video games - the notorious Hoyzer case.
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"That was a match-fixing scandal affecting German football matches and called after the referee Robert Hoyzer, who was found guilty of accepting kickbacks," states Mr Ali.

"It was Odset, the German state-run betting monopoly, that lost millions in euros, as they were unable to track the bets being placed 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 consequently jailed for his function in the scandal.

Information sharing

Nevertheless, the yohaig code scandal galvanised ESSA's starting members to attempt and develop a system where the certified betting sector and sporting authorities might work together "to share info on irregular and suspicious betting".

Essa represents licensed repaired chances bookmakers such as Ladbrokes, Bwin and Unibet, but gambling exchanges are not part of the organisation.

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

If there is a scandal, accredited bookmakers can lose cash as people stop betting and "the entire market is stained".
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The Essa companies have developed a main office to share info and security and pass on details to sports organisations complimentary of charge.

"A lot of work has actually been done in regards to establishing and improving the manner in which sports and bookmakers interact and work with one another," says Mr Ali.

'Safety guidelines'

Each Essa member offers odds on an average of 500,000 different bets a year, and each digests and scrutinises the electronic information it gets.

There are early warning systems in place, which he says, makes it difficult for lawbreakers to do crooked things online.

"Every trusted bookmaker has their own safety standards.

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

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

Essa firms can use "stop losses" or betting ceilings to prevent additional bets being positioned.

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

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

'Little education'
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Essa has actually likewise devised a yohaig promotion code of conduct for sportspersons and women and is dealing with sporting body EU Professional Athletes.

Mr Ali has actually brought out in person meetings with professional athletes in Germany, France and Spain, speaking about issues such as match-fixing and wagering.

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

"We have had players coming to us and asking us to help them," he adds.
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"A few of them have had no, or really little, education on gaming and sporting policies.

"We see young athletes, not wagering really heavily, however going against the yohaig code guidelines of their sport."

And he states that a few sports do not even have a betting recommendation in their bonus code yohaig of conduct.

Denied wrongdoing

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

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

PCB official Zakir Khan said the gamers' contracts were suspended in line with the ICC's anti-corruption bet9ja promotion code yohaig.

The innocence or guilt of the players, who have actually rejected any misdeed, 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 a number of the issues surrounding sports betting which have actually emerged 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, betting is driven underground into the black market," he states.

And he cautions there is no room for complacency.

"The difficulties currently dealing with sports - and in specific how we handle the integrity problems - are so basic that if we don't manage them properly and promptly they could send out sport - and the sports video gaming market - into decline."
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"But if we understand the initiative, we truly do have the opportunity to put the brakes on match fixing."
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ESSA

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