Caution after illicit greyhound bets
Press release
Date: 10 March
2010
A 24 year-old man from Sheffield has been cautioned following a
joint investigation into cheating at gambling by the Gambling
Commission (the Commission) with support from the Greyhound Board
of Great Britain (GBGB).
The man was cautioned by the Commission under section 42 of the
Gambling Act 2005, following an operation which arose from a
suspicious betting report. The criminal investigation found no
evidence of a link between those operating the track and the
individual placing the bets.
The investigation was launched following events in November 2009
at Coventry Greyhound Stadium when a number of races were run in
advance of their advertised start time. An employee in the
off-course betting industry exploited their knowledge of the
results of those races to place bets with other off-course
firms.
In a parallel development, GBGB investigated whether a breach of
its rules of racing had been committed by an employee of Coventry
Greyhound Stadium. These investigations resulted in an independent
disciplinary inquiry being heard at the offices of the GBGB on
Tuesday 9 March.
According to the GBGB rules, tracks should report races which
run before the advertised start time to prevent any foul play.
Although no-one employed by Coventry Greyhound Stadium was
implicated in the original criminal investigation, the GBGB found
the nominated ‘Racecourse Executive’ at the Stadium, 50 year-old
Russ Watkin, to be in breach of certain rules relating to the
advertised start time of races, the control of licensed personnel
on a racecourse and acting in a manner prejudicial to the
integrity, proper conduct and good reputation of greyhound
racing.
Mr Watkin who had been employed as the stadium’s Racing Manager,
was “severely reprimanded” and fined a sum of £5,000 by the GBGB’s
Disciplinary Committee. The Committee noted that Coventry’s local
records showed a series of incorrect and misleading official race
start times.
Commenting on the operation, the Commission’s Head of
Enforcement and Regional Compliance, Mike Williams said:
“We consider every report of suspicious betting activity we
receive as part of our role in keeping gambling fair and safe for
all.
“This joint investigation with the team at the Greyhound Board
is a good example of effective joint working protecting the
integrity of sports betting.”
A spokesperson for the GBGB said:
"We are pleased to have been able to cooperate with the Gambling
Commission in investigating this incident.
“While the results of the Commission’s investigation have
concluded there to be no link between individuals licensed by GBGB
and the suspicious betting patterns, the valuable liaison between
the two organisations has helped us to place into context the
implications of these serious breaches of our rules.”
Ends
Notes to editors
The Gambling Commission
- 1. The Gambling Commission (the Commission) regulates gambling
in the public interest. It does so by keeping crime out of
gambling, by ensuring that gambling is conducted fairly and openly,
and by protecting children and vulnerable people from being harmed
or exploited by gambling. The Commission also provides independent
advice to government on gambling in Britain.
- 2. The Commission is responsible for licensing and regulating
all gambling in Great Britain other than the National Lottery and
spread betting, which are the responsibility of the National
Lottery Commission and the Financial Services Authority (FSA)
respectively.
- 3. Greyhound Board of Great
Britain website.
Further information
- You can call John Travers on (0121) 230 6700, (07852) 124624 or
email him via communications@gamblingcommission.gov.uk.