International collaboration
Gambling and sport are global, multi million pound industries increasingly commercially linked, for example via ownership and sponsorship arrangements. They are promoted by modern technologies and advertising linking the excitement of sport with that of betting. Proliferation of the interest in and betting on sport has been assisted in the growth of internet use, ever increasing means for communications and 24/7 global access to both betting and broadcasting of coverage of sporting events.
Whilst Britain will remain our primary focus, we recognise that British betting and sport is not immune to influence from external sources and domestic activities can in turn influence events elsewhere. As betting operators and sport have become increasingly globalised by virtue of changing organisations’ scope and technology, so has organised crime. The evidence of organised crime groups infiltrating sport for betting corruption purposes both in Europe and in Asia indicates the need to ensure that we are communicating and collaborating with international stakeholders specifically to ensure British interests are protected.
The Commission has neither the remit nor the resource to investigate this international criminality. However, in addition to establishing effective relationships with UK law enforcement agencies we will sustain our engagement with Interpol and Europol and support other foreign law enforcement investigations agencies as appropriate as an intelligence gateway to link them up with others.
Many of the recent international developments have a positive impact for the Commission and others. For example, the Macolin Convention has developed engagement and cooperation between countries in the fight against corruption in Europe and beyond. It offers the prospect of strategies, and operational frameworks that will foster greater information, intelligence exchange and operational collaboration. The Commission and DCMS has been and will be involved in the development of these opportunities as necessary to ensure UK interests are represented.
The regulatory landscape is rapidly changing as countries review and revise their policies with regards to the acceptability of gambling and in particular sports betting. The regulation of gambling is becoming more globally linked through inter regulator contacts, information exchange MoUs and mechanisms and the work of associations such as the Gaming Regulators International Forum (GREF) and International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR). We also work closely with the Council of Europe and European Union.
The Commission will engage through these channels to identify and address the threat of corrupt sports betting and will provide information and intelligence it considers appropriate to other regulators and national platforms.
Similarly sport and the betting industry are recognising the international dimensions to addressing the threats to the integrity of their interests. Our engagement with such organisations is being widened to international sports federations or organisations (for example the International Olympic Committee) and international gambling / betting associations. These are both a valuable source of information and potential recipient of information from the Commission subject to the appropriate safeguards.
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Managing the threats
Last updated: 19 January 2022
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