Sport bookies seek security in numbers against cheating
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10 November 2010
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The current decision by Pakistan's cricket authorities to suspend the main agreements of three players indicates one of the summer's greatest sport gambling stories declines to go away.

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

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

"The allegations around the Pakistan cricket group and their UK visit this promotion code summer season have actually been so incendiary that they still stay in the headlines," says Khalid Ali, secretary general of the European Sports Security Association (ESSA).

'Confront obstacles'

Brussels-based ESSA was established by 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 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 many other sports regulators.
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"Nobody wishes to bet on contests whose results they feel are rigged," states Mr Ali, discussing sports betting.

"The certified wagering industry is figured out to confront the difficulties head-on."

It was a scandal five years ago which led to the creation of this promotion code bookies' intelligence operation, one designed to keep an eye on and dispatch suspicious betting patterns.

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

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

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

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

Information sharing

Nevertheless, the scandal galvanised ESSA's charter member to try and develop a system where the yohaig code certified wagering sector and sporting authorities might collaborate "to share details on irregular and suspicious wagering".

Essa represents licensed fixed chances bookies such as Ladbrokes, Bwin and Unibet, however gambling exchanges are not part of the organisation.

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

If there is a scandal, licensed bookies can lose money as individuals stop wagering and "the entire market is stained".

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

"A great deal of work has been done in regards to establishing and enhancing the manner in which 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.

There are early warning systems in place, which he states, makes it hard for crooks to do crooked things online.
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"Every reliable bookie has their own security guidelines.

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

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

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

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

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

'Little education'
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Essa has likewise devised a standard procedure for sportsmen and women and is working with sporting body EU Professional Athletes.

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

And it is hoped that Essa can even more broaden that work with the European professional athletes group next year.

"We have actually had gamers pertaining to us and asking us to assist them," he includes.

"Some of them have had no, or very bit, education on gaming and sporting regulations.
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"We see young professional athletes, not wagering extremely heavily, but breaking the rules of their sport."

And he states that a few sports do not even have a gaming reference in their standard procedure.

Denied wrongdoing

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

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

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

The innocence or guilt of the gamers, who have denied 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 thinks that a lot of the problems surrounding sports gambling which have actually occurred over the past year have actually been connected with markets where betting is banned, 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 warns there is no room for complacency.

"The obstacles currently facing sports - and in particular how we deal with the integrity problems - are so essential that if we do not handle them correctly and promptly they might send out sport - and the sports video gaming market - into decline."

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