AusLeisure

The International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) has called on leading organisations in sport and betting to develop a multinational, multi-agency approach to the monitoring of international sports betting.

Speaking at the European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL) Seminar on Good Financial Governance, ICSS Director of Sport Integrity Chris Eaton said sport bodies and betting organisations must cooperate to develop a multinational and multiagency approach to the monitoring of international betting in sport if they are to keep pace with emerging trends in organised crime.

Eaton explained "at an international level, fast and flexible preventative mechanisms must be integrated into international statutes, policy and regulations to keep pace with the criminals of today. The explosion of new innovations in betting and gaming through social media and the impact of live and in-play betting have created the perfect storm' for criminal organisations targeting sport.

"Unless sport bodies and betting organisations develop a multinational and multiagency approach, some organisations will not be able to keep pace with criminal activity in the future."

Eaton added that such an approach must be neutral and independent and protect sport through the use of discrete and confidential alerts, advice and strategic leadership.

Citing one example of how this approach is currently applied within sport, he explained "horse racing, through its historical relationship with betting, has developed a number of features that are worth considering for sports, like football, which intentionally or not, are also becoming integrated with betting.

Eaton stated "features worth considering include Racing Stewards, professional experts who continuously monitor races and have the authority to immediately investigate suspicious behaviour and results, before, during and after a race has taken place. These Race Stewards, in cooperation with betting organisations, can also suspend betting payouts while a suspicious race is investigated, denying criminals their fraudulent winnings. Horse Racing Authorities also have the power to ban corruptors and criminals, whether they hold a position in racing or not, from any horse racing facility or related occupation.

"No matter how powerful or protected within its own borders, European sports authorities cannot protect themselves from either criminals or unregulated and illegal betting outside of Europe, without a global compact or a global mechanism of some kind."

Attending the conference alongside Eaton, ICSS Executive Director Helmut Spahn added "following the ICSS's agreement with the EPFL, signed earlier this year at Securing Sport 2013, I would like to congratulate the EPFL for organising this unique and thought-leading event. This specialist forum will bring together leading figures in world football to discuss emerging topics surrounding the integrity, governance and financial structures currently being applied by clubs and associations around the world.

"It is important that football continues to remain vigilant and develop fast, flexible mechanisms and policies that safeguard sporting integrity to keep pace with new techniques being employed by today's criminals. I look forward to working closely with the EPFL and other sporting organisations to developing these frameworks to create a safer future for all those involved in sport."

The ICSS is an international, not-for-profit institution that aims to help event organisers to stage safer major sporting events. The Centre's mission is to improve security, safety and integrity in sport by addressing real issues and providing world-leading services, skills, networks and knowledge.

Chris Eaton authored the feature 'Rescuing the integrity of football' in the January/February 2013 issue of Australasian Leisure Management.

For more information go to www.theicss.org

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