Sports Betting Integrity Seminar

Tuesday 8 February 2011

Welcome and Introduction by Tim LambCEO Sport and Recreation Alliance & Chair Sports Betting Group

“Importance of sports integrity and addressing the recommendations in the Parry report”

Hugh RobertsonMinister for Sport

“Government’s position on sports betting integrity and support for the implementation of the Parry recommendations”

Sir Craig ReedieIOC Executive Board member

“Importance of integrity in sport and why sporting bodies and national governments must work together”

“Importance of integrity in sport and why sporting bodies and national governments must work together”

Sir Craig Reedie, London, 8 February 2011

1

Irregular versus Illegal Betting

Irregular Betting

suspicious betting patterns with betting operators legally registered in a country

sport can monitor

Illegal Betting

forbidden practices of betting operators not officially licensed

needs power of public and police authorities

7

Integrity in sport a MUST

8

Similarities to Doping

Cheating driven by betting:

• threat to sport’s integrity

• subject to criminal networking

• can happen to all sports and in all countries

• serious and unified strategy needed

9

IOC Strategy

Protection of the integrity of the Olympic Games through• monitoring• education of stakeholders• clause in entry form

Unify the Olympic Movement’s strategy + call for rules

Collaboration with public authorities

10

Need for a Unified Approach

11

The way forward

12

Rick ParryChair Sports Betting Integrity Panel

“Explaining the Parry report recommendations. The benefits of working towards a new ‘code of conduct’ on integrity in relation to sports betting”

SPORTS BETTING INTEGRITY PANEL

• Established by the Minister for Sport in summer 2009

• Reported back to the Minister in February 2010

OBJECTIVE:

To recommend to the Minister a practical, effective and proportionate plan of action that has the support of those responsible for delivery

TERMS OF REFERENCE

• Possible threat to the integrity of sport remains an ever present problem requiring multi- solutions

• Sports, the betting industry and enforcement authorities all play important roles

• The Panel was created to:

- help coordinate the work of those parties and to facilitate collaboration

- examine the issues and recommend on how the bodies can work to together more effectively

-design an integrated strategy to uphold integrity in sports and associated betting

PROCESS

• Sports that have experienced problems (horse racing, cricket and tennis) responded by:

- adopted robust rules and disciplining procedures

- implementing a comprehensive education program for all participants

- created an integrity unit with intelligent and instigative capabilities

RECOMMENDATIONS• Rules and discipline

• Education

• Sports Betting Intelligence Unit

• Government to review the definition of cheating in the Gambling Act 2005 and the powers of the Gambling Commission

• Gambling Commission to review the operation of license condition 15.1 to secure greater consistency and transparency

• Betting operators to vary terms and conditions to embrace breaches of sports rules

RULES AND DISCIPLINE• New Code of Conduct for Governing Bodies

(Replacing the 2006 10-point plan

-Rules on Betting

-Inside information

-Commitment to enforcement

-Sanctions

-Information sharing and cooperation

• Create a Sport Betting Group monitor Progress

EDUCATION• Each Sport to provide regular education and

communication programmes

-Involve Governing Bodies and Player Associations

-Utilise range of communication methods

-Include verification of understanding

RULES AND DISCIPLINE• Several Sports have created effective integrity units

-Is cost effective

-Aids information sharing

-Shortens lines of communications

-Ensures resource is directed where it is needed

• Locate within the Gambling Commission

• Pan-Sports integrity unit

-Has powers of inquiry and prosecution

-Already has intelligence and investigatory functions

-Avoids duplication of resources and activity

Questions for the Panel?

Coffee break

Session 1: Integrity InfrastructureDarren Bailey – The FA

“Overview of the core functions and considerations that a sport has to undertake on sports integrity and how sports can implement these measures through a mixture of in-house action and calling on wider agency support.”

Overview

• Integrity – why it is a core governance function

• A strategic approach to establishing a regulatory framework for integrity

• Identifying appropriate rules on betting – maintaining a sports specific approach

• What is inside information

Overview cont…

• Defining Participants

• Enforcement and implication processes

• Disciplinary procedures and sanctions

• Utilisation of complementary powers with external agencies

IntegrityA core function

• Critical to the success of a sport • Underpins participatory and commercial

sustainability • Seeing is believing• Significant and ongoing reputational damage• A core function of governance

Sports Betting Group

• From sport, for sport• Advocates for compliance - responsibilities• Assistance to sport in relation to the Code • Ongoing reporting to DCMS• Assessing the effectiveness of the Code• Sharing experiences and interactive approach

A strategic approach to establishing a regulatory framework

• A sports specific risk assessment • Proactive not reactive• Clear and enforceable betting rules• Participant obligations – e.g. reporting• Categorisation of Participants• Partnership approach (e.g. information sharing)

Identifying rules on betting

• The Code of Conduct• Minimum standards• Independence and autonomy in rule formulation • Sports specific considerations• A commitment to adopt and enforce

Minimum standards

• A Participant shall:– 2.1 not place or attempt to place a bet on a

match, race or other event or competition in which he or his club participates in

– 2.2 not solicit or facilitate, or attempt to solicit or facilitate another person to bet on a match, race or other event or competition in which he or his club participates in

Minimum standards cont…

- 2.3 not offer or attempt to offer, a bribe in order to fix or contrive a result or the progress of a match, race or other event or competition in which he or his club participates in

Minimum standards cont…

- 2.4 not receive, or seek or attempt to receive a bribe in order to fix or contrive a result or the progress of a match, race or other event or competition in which he or his club participates in

Minimum standards cont…

- 2.5 report any approach or other activity which contravenes, or which may contravene, the sports rules on betting, co-operate with any investigation and/or request for information including the provision of documentation (eg telephone/betting records to officials engaged in the investigation of suspected integrity issues in the sport in relation to betting)

Minimum standards cont…

- 2.6 perform to the best of his ability in any match, race or other event in which he participates in

Inside information definition

• Live and growing markets • Value of information• A necessary regulatory protection but clarifying

scope is key• No generic definition • Sufficiently wide ranging to cover all perceived

eventualities

BHA example

• “Inside information is information about the likely participation or likely performance of a horse in a race which is known by an Owner, Rider, Stable Employee or their service providers as a result of acting as such and is not information in the Public Domain”

Public Domain

• A sports specific assessment • Credible• “Information not published, not on the public

record and not easily accessible by an interested member of the public”

• Strict liability / rebuttable presumption

Participant definition

• Participant not prescribed definition in Code• Sports specific approach• Sufficiently wide ranging and risk based to cover

all relevant persons under governing body’s jurisdiction

• Illustrations

Participant definition cont…

• Rugby Football League “Clubs, Club Officials, Players, Licensed Agents

and any other Party participating in any capacity in any events or other activities organised, convened, or authorised by the RFL whether or not such party is a citizen or resident of the UK”

Supporting disciplinary procedures

• Establishing complementary procedures• Partnerships/agreements on jurisdiction • Carriage of investigation• Sport, Gambling Commission, Police• Consider specific arrangements for betting cases

– and avoid prejudicial actions• Appropriately expedited procedures

Sanctions

• Sovereignty retained• Proportionate but sufficiently robust• Assessment of overall impact on integrity of the

sport• Identify mitigating factors and aggravating factors

to promote consistency and understanding

Designated person

• A “go-to” person • Take ownership of the issue • Respond to events• Procure compliance• Fulfil local education role

Utilisation of complementary powers

• International federations• Gambling Commission • Police• Betting operators• International agencies

Session 2: Intelligence, Investigation and Enforcement

Part 1: Matthew Hill – The Gambling Commission

“Presentation by the Gambling Commission covering their remit with regards to the Sports Betting Intelligence unit, and subsequent enforcement of MOUs for working with designated persons”

Session 2: Intelligence, Investigation and Enforcement

Part 2: Paul Scotney – British Horseracing Authority

“The role of the British Horseracing Authority intelligence unit”

Tackling Betting Related Corruption – A BHA Perspective

Paul ScotneyDirector of Integrity Services, Compliance &

Licensing

British Horseracing Authority

SPORTS BETTING INTEGRITY SEMINARDCMS – 8th February

Betting on Sport

• Globally betting on Sport is at an all time high – and is still growing.

• It is now a main leisure-time activity for many millions of people world-wide.

• The range of sports on which betting is now a legal pastime continues to expand.

• Technological advances mean people can place a bet from their homes on live sporting events taking place anywhere the world.

• Football is now challenging Horseracing’s position as the largest sport’s betting market globally.

Threats to the integrity of sport?

Past and recent history shows the threat is real – if Sports Regulators ignore this, the consequences are high

• Damage to the reputation of the Sport - loss of public confidence in the Regulator and/or the Event.

• Loss of sponsorship opportunities - important revenue streams for the sport.

• Disincentive for people to attend/watch sporting events.

• Media (television/radio) reluctance to cover events.

• Loss of confidence in the sport by betting organisations which can impact on all of the above.

How Serious is the Problem?

• There has been limited betting on sporting outcomes for several hundred years – Horseracing and football (Since 1780).

• Examples of fixed sporting events for betting purposes go back more than 100 years (although until 20 years ago again mainly Horseracing and Football).

• As betting has spread to other sports so have betting related scandals.

• Sports to suffer recently include Tennis, Rugby, Cricket, Boxing, Snooker, Darts - as well as further revelations in Horseracing and Football.

• Suspicious betting on a sport still a rare event.

Role of Sports Betting Regulator

• Those who run and regulate sport must create a culture in which integrity is paramount.

• Sports Regulators have a responsibility to establish an infrastructure that is designed to prevent and detect any malpractice within their sport.

• Effective sanctions - in horseracing, in the last 6 years, we have suspended more than 15 jockeys from the sport.

• Governments have got to wake up to the issue and act together – take as seriously as Doping.

Five key areas that need to be addressed

• Clear rules and regulations for participants that are fit for purpose in all areas (betting, telephone records, inside Information etc).

• An effective investigative and intelligence capability. The BHA Integrity Unit now has Intelligence, Investigative, Analytical and Betting experts.

• Robust disciplinary structures supported by appropriate penalties (that act as a deterrent for those in the future) for those found guilty of being involved in corrupt practices.

• A comprehensive on-going education programme (e.g. Inside information).

• Partnership approach - Betting industry, Gambling Commission, Police.

The main issue: Suspicious Betting - Positive Action

• Develop a clear strategy when suspicious betting activity takes place.

• Suspicious matches/events must be rigorously investigated –monitoring is not sufficient - those cheating need to know that Sports are determined to catch them – globally.

• Every effort must be made to disrupt/deter future corrupt activities – whatever the country they live in!

• Suspicious activity may have an innocent explanation – clearing the reputation of the players and the sport from alleged wrongdoing is as important as catching the cheats.

An effective deterrent is vital

Creating an environment where the small number looking to cheat are dissuaded from doing so for fear of being caught....and the even smaller number that do try to cheat are caught and severely punished.

• Public confidence maintained;

• Spectator attendance levels assured;

• Sponsorship arrangements protected;

• Revenue – television/media rights unaffected;

• More people participating.

Session 3: Education and AwarenessSimon Barker – Professional Players Federation

& Tim Nicholls – Rugby Players Association

“What sports governing bodies together with players associations should be doing to educate players and participants about the risks associated with betting”

Education and Awareness

Simon BarkerPPF Director & Member of the Sports Betting Group

• Overview• Importance of Education and Communication• Proactive rather than Reactive• Buy in from all stakeholders in the sport• Case Studies

– Cricket– Rugby Union

Sports Betting Education Pilot Scheme

Report from the Professional Cricketers’ Association and the England and Wales Cricket BoardJan 2011

Alison Faiers: ECB Ethics and Compliance Manager

Ian Smith: PCA Legal Director

The Plan...

•To produce an interactive web-based tutorial for players and officials on anti-corruption rules and practises in cricket.

•To be able to monitor which individuals have completed the tutorial

•To enable the template to be used, with ad hoc modifications, by other sports domestically and internationally

The Format

•A video introduction stressing the importance of the education by a prominent former international cricketer followed by...

•5 separate modules covering each of the 5 key education topics that consist of a video with accompanying written materials followed by...

•A series of questions on each topic in multiple choice answer format to test knowledge gained in tutorial.

•A participant cannot progress to the next module until they’ve passed each previous module

•A certificate of completion after all 5 modules passed

The Progress•Lake Creative commissioned along with Akriga to do the design and build respectively in September 2010

•Basic design and outline script agreed November 2010

•Reference materials for embedding in the site for participants agreed and provided in early Jan 2011

•Further scripting, filming of video inserts and approval discussions with other cricket stakeholders continuing throughout January 2011

•Test site due to be ready in early Feb 2011

•Launch of site late February or early March 2011

Tim NichollsRugby Players Association

AVIVA Premiership Players500 players – 18yrs +

Player Development Programme

• Life After Rugby• Personal Development• Welfare

Personal Development

Risk Management Education• To ensure players are fully aware of the

potential risks associated with professional rugby which could effect their career and well being

• To support players with their concerns and well being

Betting Integrity & Gambling

• Identified as one of several risk areas• PPF presented the opportunity• Train Player Development Managers• Communicate with players and management• Influence policy change - clarity

Phase 1• Training day with Betfair attended by :-

Player Development Managers from RPA Andrew Rogers of RFUPhase 2• Development of workshop – snappy and factual• Development of suitable communication

materials

Implementation

Phase 3• Premiership Rugby mandated with all AVIVA

Premiership clubs• Rolled out from Jan 2011 and to be completed by

May 2011• Compulsory attendance for all contracted players• Management workshops

Implementation

Phase 4• Feedback and Review• Policy amendment/clarity and player

communications strategy

Implementation

Final Thoughts &

Questions

Session 4: Feedback & Next Steps

1. Discussion and questions around key point raised.

2. Consideration of areas where sport would require additional support from Government, the Gambling Commission and within the sport sector itself.

Thank you for your attendance