Online Casinos Pushed Off-Site at Australian Open

Betfair, a leading online gambling site, has been named the event's official sports betting operator, but will not conduct operations at the tournament.

The Australian Open may have an online casino as a sponsor, but that doesn't mean gambling on the premises of the tennis tournament will be tolerated. The Open goes beyond the rules of the Association of Tennis Professionals, allowing zero tolerance for gambling and providing for a lifetime ban against any participant, coach, or official found to have wagered on tennis.

A former government detective has been hired to oversee the proceedings this year, and call-in hotlines are open for players to report any suspicious activities or signs of match-fixing or gambling corruption.

Even failure to report an incident can be enough to draw lengthy suspensions and heavy fines. The Tennis Integrity Unit, formed after rumors of rampant match fixing, will police the grounds and investigate unusual results.

Betfair, a leading online gambling site, has been named the event's official sports betting operator, but will not conduct operations at the tournament. There will be displays, with an area promoting the Internet casino and signing new patrons.

Betfair is among several European sports betting operators that have worked with sports leagues, including tennis groups, to share information regarding suspicious betting patterns in attempts to keep games honest and uncorrupted.