What`s an ‘appropriate’ sports bet?

With corruption a real fear in global sports betting, and recent cases where British footballers have been implicated in suspicious activity, a member of the UK official Opposition, Gerry Sutcliffe MP, has called for an open discussion with bookies and football authorities on what constitutes “appropriate” wagers….and what doesn’t.

Regarding the latter, Sutcliffe has definite ideas, saying that in his view gambling on the number of red and yellow cards or corners in a game heightens the risk of corruption.

In a House of Commons exchange, Sutcliffe – a former Labour minister for sport, asked current sport minister Helen Grant to consider calling a meeting between the football authorities and the betting industry with a view to tightening up on wagering that offered the opportunity for corruption.

He gave as examples betting on the award by referees of red or yellow cards, and corner decisions.

Minister Grant acknowledged that Sutcliffe has considerable knowledge on the issue and had made an important point, adding:

“There was actually a meeting that was highlighted all over the papers just a couple of days ago whereby we did meet the main governing bodies and the Gambling Commission to discuss the very issue you talk about – match-fixing, spot-fixing.

“The integrity of sport, of course, is absolutely paramount and we have got to keep sport clean.

“It is very obvious a multi-agency approach is needed to deal with these issues and we need to continue to make sure that player education is developed, information-sharing happens and that we also share best practice.”

Related and similar