Sports Purity Unaffected by Online Gambling, UK Finds
The mass of funding lobbying against legal sports gambling in the US is derived mainly from the National Football League and other US sports leagues, attempting to guard the integrity of games. But a new study by the UK Gambling Commission suggests that online casinos and sports gambling have not interfered with honest and uncorrupted results of sports matches.
In the last eighteen months, the commission received reports of about fifty incidents which aroused suspicions regarding gambling influence. Over half were quickly found to be unsubstantiated.
While the remainder are still in question, only a handful are deemed worthy of continued inquiry. Further, the commission found the number of suspicious results to be equal or less than before the advent of legal online sports gaming.
Online sports books have long contended NFL policy leaves its players and game results at risk. The gambling operators say illegal sports betting poses far greater dangers for the league than regulated and transparent sports wagering.
European lawmakers have recognized this concept for some time. Cooperation between online casinos and sports officials has led to tight and secure measures against undue influence.
Brain Pomeroy, the Gambling Commission Chairman, said, "While limited evidence has so far emerged to support the widespread concern about the risks to betting integrity, combating those risks by working effectively with our partners is a key priority for the Gambling Commission.
"Our integrity team is already working with CCPR, sports governing bodies and betting operators to develop enhanced joint working as we strive to maintain the integrity of betting in Great Britain."
