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

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Sport bookies look for security in numbers against unfaithful

10 November 2010
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the yohaig code recent choice by Pakistan's cricket authorities to suspend the main contracts of three gamers indicates one of the summer season's greatest sport betting stories declines to disappear.

Batsman Salman Butt and rate bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif are under investigation for supposed spot-fixing during 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 Pakistan cricket team and their UK visit this promotion code summer have been so incendiary that they still remain in the headlines," says Khalid Ali, secretary general of the European Sports Security Association (ESSA).

'Confront challenges'

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

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

"Nobody desires to bank on contests whose results they feel are rigged," states Mr Ali, discussing sports betting.

"The licensed wagering industry is determined to face the obstacles head-on."

It was a five years ago which led to the creation of this bookmakers' intelligence operation, one developed to keep an eye on 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 notorious Hoyzer case.

"That was a match-fixing scandal impacting German football matches and named after the referee Robert Hoyzer, who was found guilty of accepting bribes," states Mr Ali.

"It was Odset, the German state-run wagering monopoly, that lost millions in euros, as they were unable to track the bets being put on place in Germany on the fixed video games.

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

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

Information sharing

Nevertheless, the scandal galvanised ESSA's starting members to attempt and develop a system where the licensed betting sector and sporting authorities could collaborate "to share details on irregular and suspicious betting".

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

"Most of our members are noted on stock markets, so it is likewise in their interests to stop bribery, corruption and matchfixing," says Mr Ali.

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

The Essa firms have created a central office to share info and security and pass on info to sports organisations free of charge.
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"A lot of work has been carried out in terms of establishing and improving the method that sports and bookmakers communicate and work with one another," states Mr Ali.

'Safety standards'

Each Essa member provides chances on an average of 500,000 different bets a year, and each digests and scrutinises the electronic info it gets.
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There are early caution systems in place, which he says, makes it difficult for bad guys to do misaligned things online.

"Every respectable bookie has their own safety guidelines.

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

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

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

"Once irregular wagering has been identified, this promotion code details is shared amongst the Essa group with an hour, and if proved to be suspicious, passed to sport federation," states Mr Ali.

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

'Little education'

Essa has actually likewise developed a standard procedure for sportsmen and women and is dealing with sporting body EU Professional Athletes.
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Mr Ali has carried out face-to-face conferences with professional athletes in Germany, France and Spain, talking about issues 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 players coming to us and asking us to assist them," he includes.
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"A few of them have actually had no, or extremely little bit, education on betting and sporting policies.
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"We see young athletes, not wagering very greatly, but breaking the yohaig code guidelines of their sport."

And he states that a couple of sports do not even have a gambling referral in their special code yohaig of conduct.

Denied misbehavior

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

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

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

The innocence or regret of the gamers, who have denied any misdeed, will be evaluated at an independent tribunal, the date of which has yet to be set.

'Challenges facing sport'

ESSA's Mr Ali thinks that a number of the issues surrounding sports betting which have developed over the previous year have actually been associated with markets where gaming is prohibited, such as the Asian sub-continent and East Asia.

"When you have prohibitions, betting is driven underground into the black market," he says.

And he warns there is no space for complacency.

"The obstacles presently dealing with sports - and in specific how we handle the integrity concerns - are so fundamental that if we don't handle them correctly and promptly they might send sport - and the sports video gaming industry - into decrease."

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

ESSA

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