Betting watchdog will probe FA deal to show Cup games
Whistle-to-whistle rule flouted as gambling ads shown during half-time ++ Loophole exploited seconds after 9pm watershed
AN ‘immoral’ deal that lets betting firms show FA Cup matches is being probed by the gambling watchdog.
Campaigners and MPs voiced outrage after the Daily Mail revealed last week that the FA had struck the £750million agreement. Boris Johnson said it should be axed immediately.
And yesterday the Gambling Commission announced it was investigating the FA’s partnership with seven bookies: Bet365, Betfair, William Hill, Coral, Ladbrokes, Unibet and Paddy Power.
The firms face punishment if they are found to have breached rules, such as those aimed at protecting children from being lured into betting.
Sanctions include warnings, fines or loss of licence. In other developments:
The Gambling Commission also announced that punters will be banned from using credit cards to bet online and in shops;
Shares in major UK-listed betting companies tumbled;
Football clubs could face a ban or restrictions on their shirts carrying the names of betting giants;
Broadcasters were criticised for exploiting a loophole in rules that ban betting commercials during live matches.
Announcing the inquiry, commission chief executive Neil McArthur said: ‘I understand why there are concerns, and to be clear we already require gambling operators to market, advertise or engage in sponsorship in a socially responsible way.
‘We are in touch with all operators in the deal to find out what they did to satisfy themselves.’
A spokesman added: ‘We expect gambling operators to ensure, when agreeing commercial deals relevant to sport, that such arrangements are consistent with keeping gambling safe.’
The investigation is a major victory for the Mail, which is calling for the agreement to be scrapped immediately. The sixyear contract was negotiated through sports agency IMG, which bought the right to sell live FA Cup matches to bookmakers in 2017. Last week, this newspaper revealed how the majority of the third-round FA Cup ties on the weekend of January 4/ 5 were broadcast on Bet365. Only two were on free-to-air TV.
Critics accused the FA of enticing gambling, fuelling mental illness and undermining a mental health initiative led by FA president Prince William.
James Grimes, who runs the charity The Big Step, which probes links between football and gambling, said: ‘I would like to thank the Daily Mail for exposing this immoral deal. I welcome the investigation but it comes as no surprise that the Gambling Commission have only acted when public pressure has forced them to do so.
‘Deals such as these will continue to create such consequences and the harm that will be caused is at the hands of the FA, the Gambling Commission and the industry.’
Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said: ‘I applaud the Daily Mail for exposing this. I am pleased that the Gambling Commission has picked up recommendations made by the MPs’ allparty parliamentary group on gambling harm, and this has helped force a crackdown on the abuses of the gambling companies once and for all.’ Gambling firms have now waived their rights to exclusivity and agreed that the FA can show all matches for free on its website.
Last night’s third-round replay between Tottenham and Middlesbrough was shown live on Bet365.
To watch, fans had to place a bet before kick-off or have a toppedup account. The fixture was also shown live on BBC1. Campaigners are calling for a ban on live streaming on betting sites. Labour MP Carolyn Harris, who chairs the allparty parliamentary group, said: ‘If the FA had any moral compass they wouldn’t have done the deal in the first place – now they must scrap it immediately.
‘Fans are going to open a Bet365 account to watch games and are effectively being groomed into a culture of gambling.’
television companies are facing criticism for rushing out gambling adverts in so- called ‘ turbo ad breaks’ seconds after the 9pm watershed to exploit a loophole in the whistle- to- whistle ban on advertising during live matches.
this practice has become increasingly common since the ban was introduced last August, with a Betway advert shown on sky sports last Friday just 46 seconds after the watershed — and moments before the start of the broadcaster’s second-half coverage of sheffield United’s win over West Ham.
Gambling companies are increasingly buying slots in the short breaks before the second half for matches that kick off at 8pm. these generally fall just after the 9pm watershed, enabling them to gain exposure without flouting the ban.
the sought-after advertising space during live matches is generally bought months in advance, shortly after the televised games have been confirmed.
sky sports were twice forced to apologise at the start of the season for breaching the regulations, which were introduced on August 1, with adverts for sky Bet and
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