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. 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. 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. 3. Greyhound Board of Great Britain website.

Further information

  1. You can call John Travers on (0121) 230 6700, (07852) 124624 or email him via communications@gamblingcommission.gov.uk.