Sport bookmakers look for security in numbers against cheating
bet9ja.com
10 November 2010

The recent decision by Pakistan's cricket authorities to suspend the main agreements of three gamers indicates one of the summertime's biggest sport betting stories refuses to disappear.

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

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

"The accusations around the Pakistan cricket team and their UK go to this promotion code summer season have been so incendiary that they still remain in the headings," states 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 track of any irregular wagering patterns or possible insider betting from within each sport.

It has signed memorandums of comprehending with a variety of sports bodies - including FIFA, UEFA, EPFL, the FA, DFB, ATP, ITF and WTA - and has actually developed close relations with the IOC and many other sports regulators.

"Nobody wishes to bet on contests whose outcomes they feel are rigged," states Mr Ali, speaking about sports wagering.

"The certified wagering market is identified to confront the difficulties head-on."

It was a scandal five years ago which led to the development of this promotion code bookies' intelligence operation, one developed to monitor and off suspicious wagering patterns.

The body happened in 2005 following a scandal in Germany which saw a referee repairing games - the infamous Hoyzer case.
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"That was a match-fixing scandal affecting German football matches and called after the referee Robert Hoyzer, who was condemned of accepting allurements," states Mr Ali.

"It was Odset, the German state-run betting monopoly, that lost millions in euros, as they were not able to track the bets being put on place in Germany on the fixed video games.

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

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

Information sharing

Nevertheless, the scandal galvanised ESSA's charter member to attempt and produce a system where the certified wagering sector and sporting authorities might interact "to share information on irregular and suspicious wagering".
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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," states Mr Ali.

If there is a scandal, certified bookies can lose cash as people stop betting and "the entire market is tarnished".

The Essa companies have actually produced a central workplace to share information and security and pass on information to sports organisations totally free of charge.

"A great deal of work has actually been done in regards to establishing and enhancing the way that sports and bookies communicate and work with one another," states Mr Ali.

'Safety standards'

Each Essa member offers chances on approximately 500,000 various bets a year, and each digests and scrutinises the electronic information it receives.

There are early caution systems in location, which he states, makes it difficult for lawbreakers to do jagged things online.

"Every credible bookie has their own security standards.

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

"Technology implies we are able to spot in genuine time when suspicious bets are bet."

Essa companies can utilize "stop losses" or wagering ceilings to prevent further bets being placed.

"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," states Mr Ali.

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

Essa has actually also designed a promotional code yohaig of conduct for sportsmen and ladies and is working with sporting body EU Professional Athletes.

Mr Ali has performed in person conferences with athletes in Germany, France and Spain, discussing concerns such as match-fixing and .

And it is hoped that Essa can even more expand that work with the European athletes group next year.
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"We have had players concerning us and asking us to help them," he adds.

"Some of them have had no, or extremely little, education on gaming and sporting guidelines.

"We see young athletes, not wagering very heavily, but going against the yohaig code guidelines of their sport."

And he says that a couple of sports do not even have a betting recommendation in their bet9ja promotion code yohaig of conduct.

Denied wrongdoing

At present, the Pakistan case appears like dragging on for a while yet.
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Mr Butt and Mr Amir have lost their appeals to the ICC over the provisionary restrictions, while Mr Asif has actually withdrawn his appeal.

PCB official Zakir Khan said the players' contracts were suspended in line with the ICC's anti-corruption special code yohaig.

The innocence or guilt of the yohaig code gamers, who have rejected any wrongdoing, will be judged at an independent tribunal, the date of which has yet to be set.

'Challenges dealing with sport'
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ESSA's Mr Ali believes that a lot of the problems surrounding sports gambling which have developed over the past year have been related to markets where gambling 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 space for complacency.

"The difficulties presently facing sports - and in particular how we deal with the integrity problems - are so basic that if we do not manage them correctly and promptly they could send sport - and the sports gaming industry - into decrease."

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

ESSA

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