Perry fined and banned over betting rules breach

Joe Perry has been fined and handed a suspended three-month ban from snooker after the former World Championship semi-finalist admitted breaching betting rules.

The 42-year-old Englishman, who sits 22nd in the world rankings, placed almost 200 bets during a period from 2009 to 2013, using five different accounts in his name.

He has been ordered to pay £2,500 by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), but the ban is suspended until after next year’s World Championship.

Perry did not bet on any matches in which he played and the prospect of a long punishment was dismissed by investigators given there was no element of match-fixing.

A WPBSA statement said: “After a hearing before the WPBSA disciplinary committee that took place on 18 July, Joe Perry admitted that between 2009 and 2013 he had breached the WPBSA members’ rules.

“The facts of the case are that between 23 September 2009 and 3 June 2013, Mr Perry placed 193 bets on snooker with five different online betting operators. None of these bets involved his own matches, but it did include bets on matches in tournaments Mr Perry competed in.

“The bets in question were relatively small in value to a total of £2,806.49 over the four-year period, where he made an overall profit of £832.09. There was one account where the betting could not be quantified due to a lack of data.”

Snooker players are not allowed to place any bets on the sport, whether or not they are directly involved. The WPBSA statement added: “There is no suggestion whatsoever that Mr Perry was doing anything to influence match outcomes or engaged in any corrupt activity. He was solely betting on snooker.”

According to the governing body’s findings, the Cambridgeshire professional placed the bets “purely out of boredom or distraction” and has since given up gambling.