Sports betting and corruption: How to preserve the - SportAccord

Sports betting and corruption: How to preserve the integrity of sport
Consideration is currently being given within the European Union to the regulation of online games,
including sports betting. The Commission, which has suspended infringement proceedings, is
discussing the opportunity for regulation at European level. It also launched a consultation on online
gambling and games of chance within the EU in 2011, to which over 250 replies were received 135 . The
Commission will rule on this consultation in 2012. In November the European Parliament stressed the
necessity for a concerted approach to combating illegal gambling within the EU 136 .
National regulatory authorities do not currently have a formal place for dialogue on their respective
activities or discussion on legislation. Given the globalised nature of the market, this would appear
essential. The regulatory authorities acting as an interface at national level could help to step up the
fight against the illegal market at European level. Disparities in legislation should not hamper close
cooperation.
In a report in October 2011, the European Parliament therefore recommended the collaboration
between national regulatory bodies to be considerably expanded with the Commission as coordinator,
emphasising that national standalone solutions are not successful for identifying gamblers appearing
on black lists and combating money laundering, betting fraud and other forms of organised crime 137 .
Dialogue between regulators also helps to highlight best practice and effective instruments deployed in
national legislation. In particular, this relates to technical measures that can be taken in the banking
sector or by Internet access providers.
Mobilisation has been gathering impetus in recent months at European Union level, particularly
following the publication of the Green Paper by the Commission and as a result of the efforts of the
Polish Presidency of the Council in the second half of 2011, which succeeded in reaching conclusions
inviting a concerted approach 138 . A European Parliament commission has also recently called for the
creation of a European Agency for Sporting Integrity and Equity, established in accordance with
Articles 6, 83 and 165 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Its mission would
consist of coordinating the fight against fraud and corruption in sport and against doping, without
prejudice to the rules or operating methods of the World Anti-Doping Agency (Auconie Report, June
2011) 139 . This option may be investigated in conjunction with the sports movement. Be that as it may,
it would appear essential and urgent for the sports movement to gain a clear understanding of this
new activity sector, which constitutes a major threat to its integrity. Any regional - or better still,
international - approach would give it a better vision of risk factors and resources to help combat them
more effectively.
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135
http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/services/gambling_en.htm
136
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/content/20111118STO31845/html/Une-actioncoordonn%C3%A9e-pour-lutter-contre-les-jeux-d%27argent-en-ligne-ill%C3%A9gaux
137
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+REPORT+A7-2011-
0342+0+DOC+PDF+V0//EN
138
http://consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/educ/126413.pdf
139
Draft opinion of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety,
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+COMPARL+PE-
467.280+01+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN
80