Sport bookmakers look for security in numbers versus cheating

10 November 2010

The current choice by Pakistan's cricket authorities to suspend the main agreements of 3 gamers suggests one of the summer season's biggest sport betting stories refuses to go away.

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

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

"The allegations around the yohaig code Pakistan cricket team and their UK go to this summer have been so incendiary that they still stay in the headings," states Khalid Ali, secretary general of the European Sports Security Association (ESSA).

'Confront difficulties'

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 variety of sports bodies - consisting of FIFA, UEFA, EPFL, the FA, DFB, ATP, ITF and WTA - and has actually developed close relations with the IOC and lots of other sports regulators.

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

"The licensed betting industry is figured out to face the challenges head-on."

It was a scandal five years ago which resulted in the production of this bookies' intelligence operation, one created to keep an eye on and off suspicious wagering patterns.

The body happened in 2005 following a scandal in Germany which saw a referee repairing video games - the infamous Hoyzer case.

"That was a match-fixing scandal affecting German football matches and called after the referee Robert Hoyzer, who was discovered guilty of accepting kickbacks," 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 placed on place in Germany on the repaired video games.

"But the licensed and regulated online market, with its electronic audit routes, was unblemished by the affair."

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

Information sharing

Nevertheless, the scandal galvanised ESSA's charter member to try and produce a system where the certified wagering sector and sporting authorities might work together "to share details on irregular and suspicious betting".

Essa represents certified repaired odds bookmakers such as Ladbrokes, Bwin and Unibet, however gambling exchanges are not part of the organisation.

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

If there is a scandal, accredited bookmakers can lose money as individuals stop betting and "the entire market is tarnished".

The Essa firms have actually produced a headquarters to share information and security and pass on details to sports organisations free of charge.

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

'Safety standards'

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

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

"Every trustworthy bookie has their own safety standards.

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

"Technology suggests we have the ability to identify in real time when suspicious bets are bet."

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

"Once irregular wagering has actually been recognized, this 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 building some momentum now and would like other individuals to come on board, such as state monopolies."

'Little education'

Essa has actually also designed a standard procedure for sportspersons and females and is working with sporting body EU Professional Athletes.

Mr Ali has brought out in person meetings with professional athletes in Germany, France and Spain, talking about problems such as match-fixing and betting.

And it is hoped that Essa can even more broaden 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 adds.

"Some of them have actually had no, or extremely little bit, education on gambling and sporting policies.

"We see young professional athletes, not wagering extremely greatly, however breaking the guidelines of their sport."

And he says that a few sports do not even have a betting referral in their bet9ja promotion 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 gamers' contracts were suspended in line with the ICC's anti-corruption bet9ja promotion code yohaig.

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

'Challenges facing sport'

ESSA's Mr Ali believes that a lot of the issues surrounding sports gambling which have developed over the past year have been related to markets where gambling is banned, such as the Asian sub-continent and East Asia.

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

And he warns there is no room for complacency.

"The obstacles currently facing sports - and in particular how we handle the integrity issues - are so basic that if we don't handle them correctly and promptly they might send sport - and the sports gaming market - into decline."

"But if we grasp the initiative, we really do have the opportunity to put the brakes on match fixing."

ESSA

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