Betting watchdogs will probe FA deal to screen Cup matches
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 English 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.
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.’
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 thirdround FA Cup ties on the weekend of January 4/5 were broadcast on Bet365. Only two were on free TV.
Critics accused the FA of enticing gamblers, fuelling mental illness and undermining a mental health initiative being 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.’
Ex-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 all-party 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 cup replay between Tottenham and Middlesbrough was live on Bet365. To watch, fans had to place a bet before kick-off or have a topped-up account.
Labour MP Carolyn Harris said: ‘Fans are going to open a Bet365 account to watch games and are effectively being groomed into a culture of gambling.’
John Greechan – Page 78
‘Exposing immoral deal’