SPORT & GAMBLING UNITE AGAINST CORRUPTION: SPORT, GAMBLING & SPONSORSHIP 2010

Although bookmakers and sport are united in tackling corruption, issues such as responsibility for convicting betting cheats and providing a fair return to sport remain contentious, heard delegates at Sport, Gambling & Sponsorship 2010, a World Sports Law Report annual conference on 14 September.

Nick Tofiluk, Director of Regulation at the Gambling Commission, told delegates that although 108 cases of suspicious betting were reported to the Commission between 1 September 2007 and 31 March 2010, 60 have been closed due to either adequate action being taken by a sports governing body or lack of evidence to secure a conviction. Just one conviction has been secured to date in relation to greyhound racing, and eight cases remain active, including two involving snooker. Tofiluk said that criminal investigations against sport are often discontinued because sports governing bodies can deal with the issue. "Criminal investigations are costly, lengthy and it is often difficult to predict the outcome", he said. "In many cases, the standard of evidence does not reach the standard required to secure a criminal conviction".

Nic Coward, Chief Executive of the British Horseracing Authority, underlined the importance of the levy in providing a financial return to horseracing from betting, and said that the concept should be extended to all sport. He expressed dismay that many of the major players in the industry had decided to locate their online operations offshore, depriving the horseracing industry of potential levy revenues. "We need to break out of this ludicrous and destructive cycle that we are in", said Coward, referring to the situation whereby bookmakers located in Great Britain must contribute to the horseracing levy, while those receiving a licence through the 'whitelist' of approved foreign jurisdictions escape the levy. "Our focus is on securing a fair return for horseracing, but we would also like to see a fair return to all sports". Under the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963 (as amended), the Horserace Levy Betting Board collects monetary contributions from bookmakers and the Tote via a levy, which it then distributes for the improvement of horseracing.

Coward pressed the point that a holistic approach is needed to any review of the current levy system encompassing all sports. He advocated "the creation of a modern market in which betting operators wanting to offer a bet must enter into enforceable contracts for the right to do so". France's Code du Sport, which allows sporting event organisers control over the 'right to offer bets', was held up as an example of how this can work. It even has European Commission approval, as confirmed by another speaker, Gianluca Monte, a Policy Advisor to the European Commission's Sports Unit.

Sport, Gambling & Sponsorship is an annual event organised by World Sports Law Report and World Online Gambling Law Report and hosted by Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP.

World Sports Law Report and World Online Gambling Law Report offer free monthly legal updates via email. Signing up takes seconds and can be done at http://www.e-comlaw.com/updates.asp.

World Sports Law Report will hold its annual Player Issues: Regulations & Contracts conference on 14 October 2010. Full details are available at http://www.playerscontracts.com.

For more information about any of our events and publications please contact Karl Behrouz at karl.behrouz@e-comlaw.com or on +44 (0)20 70121384.


WORLD SPORTS LAW REPORT LAUNCHES SPORT, GAMBLING & SPONSORSHIP SUMMIT

On 14 September 2010 World Sports Law Report, in association with the number one ranked betting and gaming firm, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP, will bring together leading sports betting experts, market analysts and pioneers in betting integrity for a top-level summit in Central London. Unique in its coverage, the event will analyse new opportunities and challenges in the increasingly global sports betting landscape, and provide expert opinion and advice on the implications of recent legal developments.

Boasting top industry names in sport and gambling including Nick Tofiluck, Director of Regulation at the Gambling Commission; Rick Parry, Chairman of the Government's Sports Betting Integrity Panel; Nic Coward, Chief Executive of the British Horseracing Authority; (TBC), the European Commission Sport Unit; Matthew Johnson, Head of Regulatory Legal Advice at The FA; Gareth Moore, Director at Sport & Markt; (TBC), Betfair and Simon Barker, Director of the Professional Players Federation, this event breaks new ground in addressing these specific issues in an intensive one-day conference.

Key issues abound in the sports betting world today:

UK sporting bodies gained ground in their struggle to protect and commercialise their data in the recent case of Football Dataco v Stan James. Ian de Freitas, a Partner in Berwin Leighton Paisner's IP group, will examine the full implications of the case and the resulting opportunities for sporting bodies.

Key industry players are keeping a keen eye on developments around the 'right to bet' rule recently approved by the French legislature, SGS2010 will analyse international legal developments, emerging markets and opportunities in the spheres of sport, gambling and sponsorship.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is currently consulting on the feasibility of extending the existing licensing system for remote gambling to overseas-based operators offering services to or advertising here in the UK. SGS 2010 features in-depth sessions on 'The UK Licensing Requirement: Impact on Sport Sponsorship' as well as 'UK Government Plans for Horseracing & Tote: Impact', an issue currently undergoing separate consultation.

SGS 2010 will feature comment and analysis of these and other key issues affecting the world of sports betting today.

Registration at Earlybird Rate is now open! For more details please contact Karl Behrouz on +44 (0)20 7012 1384, or at karl.behrouz@e-comlaw.com.