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Sport bookies seek security in numbers versus cheating
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10 November 2010
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The recent decision by Pakistan's cricket authorities to suspend the main contracts of 3 gamers means one of the summer season's most significant sport betting stories refuses to disappear.

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

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

"The allegations around the Pakistan cricket group and their UK go to this promotion code summer have been so incendiary that they still remain in the headings," states Khalid Ali, secretary general of the European Sports Security Association (ESSA).
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'Confront challenges'

Brussels-based ESSA was established by leading online sports book operators in Europe to keep an eye on any irregular wagering patterns or possible insider wagering from within each sport.

It has signed memorandums of understanding with a number of sports bodies - consisting of FIFA, UEFA, EPFL, the FA, DFB, ATP, ITF and WTA - and has developed close relations with the IOC and numerous other sports regulators.

"Nobody desires to bet on contests whose results they feel are rigged," says Mr Ali, discussing sports betting.

"The certified wagering market is determined to confront the obstacles head-on."

It was a scandal five years ago which caused the production of this bookmakers' intelligence operation, one developed to keep track of and off suspicious wagering patterns.

The body came about in 2005 following a scandal in Germany which saw a referee fixing games - the well-known Hoyzer case.

"That was a match-fixing scandal affecting German football matches and named after the referee Robert Hoyzer, who was discovered guilty of accepting kickbacks," says Mr Ali.

"It was Odset, the German state-run betting monopoly, that lost millions in euros, as they were unable to track the yohaig code bets being placed on place in Germany on the fixed games.
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"But the certified and regulated online market, with its electronic audit routes, was unblemished by the affair."

Mr Hoyzer was subsequently imprisoned for his role in the scandal.

Information sharing

Nevertheless, the scandal galvanised ESSA's charter member to try and develop a system where the certified wagering sector and sporting authorities might work together "to share info on and suspicious wagering".

Essa represents certified repaired chances bookmakers such as Ladbrokes, Bwin and Unibet, but betting exchanges are not part of the organisation.

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

If there is a scandal, certified bookmakers can lose cash as individuals stop wagering and "the entire market is stained".

The Essa companies have produced a main office to share info and security and pass on info to sports organisations free of charge.

"A great deal of work has actually been performed in terms of establishing and enhancing the method that sports and bookies interact and work with one another," states Mr Ali.

'Safety guidelines'

Each Essa member provides odds on approximately 500,000 different bets a year, and each digests and scrutinises the electronic details it receives.

There are early warning systems in location, which he states, makes it difficult for wrongdoers to do uneven things online.

"Every trusted bookie has their own security guidelines.

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

"Technology indicates we have the ability to identify in genuine time when suspicious bets are bet."

Essa companies can utilize "stop losses" or betting ceilings to avoid further bets being positioned.

"Once irregular wagering has been recognized, this details is shared amongst the Essa group with an hour, and if shown to be suspicious, passed to sport federation," states Mr Ali.
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"We are constructing some momentum now and would like other individuals to come on board, such as state monopolies."

'Little education'

Essa has also designed a standard procedure for sportsmen and ladies and is dealing with sporting body EU Professional Athletes.

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

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

"We have had gamers pertaining to us and asking us to help them," he adds.

"Some of them have actually had no, or very little bit, education on gaming and sporting regulations.
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"We see young professional athletes, not betting really greatly, however breaking the rules of their sport."

And he states that a few sports do not even have a betting referral in their special code yohaig of conduct.

Denied misdeed

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

Mr Butt and Mr Amir have actually lost their interest the ICC over the provisionary bans, while Mr Asif has withdrawn his appeal.

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

The innocence or guilt of the players, who have actually denied any misdeed, will be evaluated at an independent tribunal, the date of which has yet to be set.

'Challenges facing sport'

ESSA's Mr Ali thinks that numerous of the problems surrounding sports betting which have actually arisen over the previous year have actually been associated with markets where gaming is banned, such as the Asian sub-continent and East Asia.

"When you have prohibitions, betting is driven underground into the black market," he states.

And he warns there is no space for complacency.
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"The obstacles currently facing sports - and in specific how we deal with the integrity issues - are so essential that if we don't manage them properly and swiftly they could send sport - and the sports gaming industry - into decrease."

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

ESSA

C5
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