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Sports Betting Intelligence Unit terms of reference

Introduction

The aim of the Gambling Commission (the Commission) is to make gambling fairer and safer1. Our five strategic priorities are to deliver this vision are to:

  • protect the interests of consumers
  • prevent harm to consumers and the public
  • raise standards in the gambling market
  • optimise returns to good causes from lotteries
  • improve the way we regulate.

In the summer of 2009 the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) established a Sports Betting Integrity Panel (the Panel), bringing together experts from the betting industry, the police, players, fans, Sports Governing Bodies (SGBs), the legal profession and the Commission. The aim of the Panel was to make recommendations as to the design and implementation of an integrated strategy to uphold integrity in sport and associated betting.

One set of the recommendations of the Panel’s report concerned the Commission, building on its existing work to establish a Sports Betting Intelligence Unit (SBIU). The Commission welcomed this recommendation and the SBIU became operational in 2010.

The primary role of the SBIU is to contribute to the Commission’s strategic priorities. It will do this by supporting and facilitating collaboration across operators and other agencies concerned with raising standards in relation to sports betting integrity. It also strives to foster national and international standards where it is clearly in the interests of British consumers to do so.

This document sets out the terms of reference for the SBIU, based on the recommendations of the Panel and the benefits of our experiences since the unit was formed.

Terms of Reference

The SBIU will focus upon collecting and analysing information and intelligence relating to potentially criminal activity in respect of sports betting, where that activity:

  • relates to a sporting event that occurred in Great Britain
  • involves parties2 based within Great Britain
  • actively occurred under a Gambling Commission licence .

The SBIU will act as the operational hub of Britain’s Betting Integrity National Platform as set out in Article 13 of the Macolin Convention.

It will help bring together the intelligence efforts of partners and play its part in protecting sports betting from corruption in support of the Sports and Sports Betting Integrity Action Plan and the strategic elements of the Gambling Act 2005 (opens in a new tab):

  • the SBIU will develop intelligence to inform investigative decision making on the prosecution or disruption of criminal offences or regulatory action under the Gambling Act
  • where relevant and appropriate, this intelligence may be made available to third parties to assist disciplinary action. This could include, for example, action taken by a Sports Governing Body under a sports rule or by a betting operator against an employee. Other disruptive action may be taken by any of the parties. The intelligence will also inform strategic analysis on sports betting integrity issues
  • the SBIU will develop specific intelligence on individual events and/or individuals. It will not undertake general, pre-emptive monitoring of betting markets or sporting events. This remains the role of betting operators and sports governing bodies respectively
  • the SBIU will provide bespoke support to international tournaments where relevant. More information can be found in ‘Protecting Betting Integrity’3.
  • the SBIU will contribute to debriefings of sports betting integrity cases conducted by the Commission and partners to develop and share knowledge, working practices and techniques.

Further information

If you would like more information about the SBIU please consult the Commission’s website or contact the Commission on their general enquiry line on 0121 230 6666.

If you have information concerning illegal gambling activity that you would like to report please contact the Commission on our confidential intelligence line on 0121 230 6655.

Footnotes - SBIU terms of reference

1 Gambling Commission strategy 2018 - 2021

2 Examples of ‘Parties’ could include participants as defined by a sports governing body, employees of a betting operator, employees of a TV or telecoms company etc

3 Additional information for event organisers can also be found in the Governments Gold Framework (opens in a new tab)

Last updated: 19 January 2022

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