BETDAQ, one of the world’s leading bookmakers, yesterday accused sports governing bodies of not doing enough to curb corruption. The debate, held in Westminster, was chaired by the BBC Horse racing correspondent Cornelius Lysaght, and present were representatives of the media, sporting federations, bookmakers, sector analysts and industry bodies.
The calls came in the wake of allegations of tennis players deliberately throwing matches in order to clean up at the bookmakers. Rob Hartnett, UK Managing Director made it clear where he felt the responsibility should lie. “Sporting regulators have more information now than they ever had before. They should use this information to maintain the purity and integrity of their sport,” he argued. “If there are suspicions, in racing for example, the Jockey Club should make them known to the jockey and trainers, ideally ahead of the event. The best way for the Club to deal with it is for them to take action and make individuals aware that their performance will be watched closely.”
He went on to explain that BETDAQ have always provided sports authorities with evidence of suspicious betting patterns and felt that their efforts had been largely ignored. “The Jockey Club, The Football Association, The Association of Tennis Professionals, all should be looking at these betting patterns and they should be acting upon them.” He called for a government appointed independent commission charged with safeguarding sporting integrity.@@
The calls came in the wake of allegations of tennis players deliberately throwing matches in order to clean up at the bookmakers. Rob Hartnett, UK Managing Director made it clear where he felt the responsibility should lie. “Sporting regulators have more information now than they ever had before. They should use this information to maintain the purity and integrity of their sport,” he argued. “If there are suspicions, in racing for example, the Jockey Club should make them known to the jockey and trainers, ideally ahead of the event. The best way for the Club to deal with it is for them to take action and make individuals aware that their performance will be watched closely.”
He went on to explain that BETDAQ have always provided sports authorities with evidence of suspicious betting patterns and felt that their efforts had been largely ignored. “The Jockey Club, The Football Association, The Association of Tennis Professionals, all should be looking at these betting patterns and they should be acting upon them.” He called for a government appointed independent commission charged with safeguarding sporting integrity.@@
