Sport bookies look for security in numbers against cheating
10 November 2010
The current choice by Pakistan's cricket authorities to suspend the main contracts of 3 gamers implies one of the summer's greatest sport betting stories declines to disappear.
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Batsman Salman Butt and pace bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif are under examination for alleged spot-fixing during Pakistan's tour of England previously this year.
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They stay provisionally suspended from all cricketing activities by the International Cricket Council.
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"The allegations around the Pakistan cricket group and their UK see this promotion code 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 challenges'
Brussels-based ESSA was established by leading online sports book operators in Europe to keep an eye on any irregular betting patterns or possible from within each sport.
It has signed memorandums of understanding with a number of sports bodies - including FIFA, UEFA, EPFL, the FA, DFB, ATP, ITF and WTA - and has developed close relations with the IOC and numerous other sports regulators.
"Nobody wishes to bank on contests whose results they feel are rigged," says Mr Ali, discussing sports betting.
"The licensed wagering market is identified to face the difficulties head-on."
It was a scandal 5 years ago which resulted in the production of this bookies' intelligence operation, one developed to monitor and dispatch suspicious betting patterns.
The body came about in 2005 following a scandal in Germany which saw a referee fixing video games - the infamous Hoyzer case.
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"That was a match-fixing scandal affecting German football matches and named after the referee Robert Hoyzer, who was condemned 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 fixed video games.
"But the certified and regulated online industry, with its electronic audit tracks, was untouched by the affair."
Mr Hoyzer was subsequently imprisoned for his role in the scandal.
Information sharing
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Nevertheless, the scandal galvanised ESSA's charter member to attempt and develop a system where the licensed betting sector and sporting authorities could collaborate "to share info on irregular and suspicious betting".
Essa represents certified fixed chances bookies such as Ladbrokes, Bwin and Unibet, however gambling exchanges are not part of the organisation.
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"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, certified bookies can lose money as people stop betting and "the whole market is tarnished".
The Essa companies have created a headquarters to share details and security and hand down information to sports organisations free of charge.
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"A lot of work has been done in terms of establishing and improving the method that sports and bookmakers communicate and work with one another," states Mr Ali.
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'Safety standards'
Each Essa member provides odds on an average of 500,000 various bets a year, and each digests and scrutinises the electronic details it gets.
There are early warning systems in place, which he states, makes it difficult for lawbreakers to do misaligned things online.
"Every respectable bookie has their own security 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 indicates we have the ability to find in genuine time when suspicious bets are wagered."
Essa companies can utilize "stop losses" or wagering ceilings to prevent more bets being put.
"Once irregular wagering has been determined, this promotion code details is shared among the Essa group with an hour, and if proved 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 likewise created a standard procedure for sportsmen and women and is working with sporting body EU Professional Athletes.
Mr Ali has actually performed in person conferences with athletes in Germany, France and Spain, discussing problems such as match-fixing and betting.
And it is hoped that Essa can further broaden that deal with the European athletes group next year.
"We have had gamers coming to us and asking us to assist them," he adds.
"Some of them have had no, or really bit, education on gaming and sporting regulations.
"We see young athletes, not betting really heavily, however going versus the rules of their sport."
And he says that a few sports do not even have a gambling referral in their standard procedure.
Denied misdeed
At present, the Pakistan case looks like dragging out for a while yet.
Mr Butt and Mr Amir have lost their interest the ICC over the provisionary restrictions, while Mr Asif has actually withdrawn his appeal.
PCB official Zakir Khan said the gamers' agreements were suspended in line with the ICC's anti-corruption promotional code yohaig.
The innocence or regret of the gamers, who have actually rejected any misdeed, will be judged at an independent tribunal, the date of which has yet to be set.
'Challenges dealing with sport'
ESSA's Mr Ali thinks that much of the issues surrounding sports gambling which have actually occurred over the past year have actually been connected with markets where gaming is prohibited, such as the Asian sub-continent and East Asia.
"When you have restrictions, betting is driven underground into the black market," he says.
And he cautions there is no room for complacency.
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"The obstacles currently facing sports - and in specific how we handle the stability problems - are so fundamental that if we don't handle them properly and promptly they might send out sport - and the sports gaming industry - into decrease."
"But if we grasp the effort, we really do have the opportunity to put the brakes on match repairing."
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Sport Bookmakers Seek Safety in Numbers against Cheating
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