SBI Action Plan 2018 - sbif.uk

1 Sports and Sports betting Integrity Action Plan 2018 FINAL 10/4/18 logo updated Page 1 of 11 Sport and Sports betting Integrity Action Plan 2018 Britain s approach to address risks to the integrity of sport and sports Sports and Sports betting Integrity Action Plan 2018 FINAL 10/4/18 logo updated Page 2 of 11 Sport and sports betting integrity Action plan Introduction 1. The Sport and Sports betting Integrity Action Plan (SBI Action Plan) outlines Britain s approach to address risks to the integrity of sport and sports betting and to protect our national and international reputation for being a safe place to enjoy both.

2 The corrupt manipulation of sport events and related betting markets is often referred to as match-fixing1. 2. The SBI Action Plan sets out the expected focus of agencies, sports governing bodies (SGBs), player associations, betting operators and government in delivering timely and effective actions to identify and control risks associated with match-fixing and sports betting integrity. 3. The plan builds upon the progress made since the publication of the Report of the Sports betting Integrity Panel in January 2010 that provided the initial roadmap for Action .

3 It also progressed Action 31 of the UK Anti-Corruption Plan, published in October 20142. A progress update on the UK Anti-Corruption Plan was published in May 2016. 3 4. The first SBI Plan was published in September 2015. In line with our commitment to an annual review, the second edition of the Plan, along with a progress report against priority actions, was published in January 2016. 5. This third edition builds on that progress, continuing the collaborative approach to prevent and deter to protect against match fixing and sports betting related corruption.

4 It has also been amended to include relevant updates and new priorities, 6. The SBI Plan also reflects the objectives and approach of the Council of Europe s Convention4 on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions (known as the Macolin Convention). Britain has committed to signing the Convention in 20185. A further re-fresh of the SBI Plan will be published once Britain has signed the Macolin Convention. 7. Article 13 of the Macolin Convention sets out what is expected from signatories in terms of establishing a national platform. The key operating principles of a national platform are to: a.

5 Coordinate the fight against the manipulation of sports competitions; b. Identify and coordinate the actions of key partners; and c. Collect, assess and exchange information to support the collective and individual partner s efforts. 1 The Council of Europe s Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions defines manipulation of sports competitions as an intentional arrangement, act or omission aimed at improper alteration of the result or the course of a sports competition in order to remove all or part of the unpredictable nature of the aforementioned sports competition with a view to obtaining an undue advantage for oneself or for others 2 UK Anti-Corruption Plan 4 The Council of Europe s Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions 5 United Kingdom Anti-Corruption Strategy 2017 - 2020 Page 47 Sports and Sports betting Integrity Action Plan 2018 FINAL 10/4/18 logo updated Page 3 of 11 8.

6 The Sports betting Integrity Forum (SBIF) and the Sports betting Intelligence Unit (SBIU) will continue to function as Britain s national platform, unless an alternative steer is provided by Government. More information on the SBIF and SBIU can be found in Part 1 of the SBI Plan. 9. We also need to understand what will be expected in terms of our contributions to deliver priority 3 of the Anti-Corruption Strategy, which aims to promote integrity across public and private sectors . This includes greater integrity in domestic and international sport.

7 Once this Action has been agreed, details will be included in the refresh as referenced at paragraph 6. 10. The Gambling Commission (the Commission) acts as the lead agency for the UK approach to combatting the sports betting integrity risk. Working with DCMS and relevant national and international bodies, the Commission ensures that the SBI Plan is coordinated with UK government sports integrity policies and strategies. This includes Sporting Future: A new strategy for an active nation 6 published in 2015. What is meant by the manipulation of sports events or match-fixing?

8 11. It is the corrupt manipulation of a sporting event by those participating, officiating, organising or coaching, with the intention of producing a result or occurrence which benefits the corrupter and/or their associates. The benefit may be a financial reward related to the deception of operators or other bettors through sports betting . 12. Match-fixing corruption can also result in benefit to individuals or teams by gaining advantage in tournaments, leagues and/or competitions. Such actions may not necessarily involve betting and could be a breach of sports codes or regulations, if relevant clauses and/or conditions are in place.

9 Why is prevention so important? 13. Sport and sports betting rely upon high standards of integrity. Match-fixing and related betting corruption undermines the ethos, reputation and commercial viability of sports and betting businesses. It can have an impact on the social, political and economic benefits derived from sports and sports betting . It tarnishes the reputation of all athletes and has impact upon Britain s reputation as a safe environment within which to host sporting events and conduct gambling related business. The Sports betting integrity Action plan: Overview and purpose 14.

10 The purpose of the SBI Action Plan is to put in place a framework of actions to: a. Prevent sporting events and licensed sporting betting markets from being corrupted. b. Deterring persons from organising corrupt sports events to manipulate betting markets 6 Sporting Future: A new strategy for an active nation Sports and Sports betting Integrity Action Plan 2018 FINAL 10/4/18 logo updated Page 4 of 11 15. We do not believe that we have an endemic problem in Britain, although we have continued to experience instances of sports integrity and betting -related corruption.