MAGAZINE OF THE EUROPEAN LOTTERIES, 2011, SEPTEMBER ...
MAGAZINE OF THE EUROPEAN LOTTERIES, 2011, SEPTEMBER ...
MAGAZINE OF THE EUROPEAN LOTTERIES, 2011, SEPTEMBER ...
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SPORTS BETTING MORE<br />
THAN EVER UNDER<br />
CONTROL!<br />
Hans Christian Madsen, CEO, Danske Spil (left)<br />
and EL President Friedrich Stickler<br />
The EL Monitoring System was officially implemented<br />
in May 2008, although this service<br />
already exists since 2005. Match-fixing is not a<br />
new issue, but in the light of the alarming increase<br />
of the phenomenon of manipulations of<br />
sporting events, such a system has proven its significance,<br />
not only concerning football games,<br />
but also for all sports competitions such as tennis,<br />
hockey, cricket, etc.<br />
Match-fixing calls all stakeholders into question.<br />
The laissez-faire approach of certain sports organisations,<br />
indifference of the authorities and pressure<br />
from criminal organisations have created an unhealthy<br />
sports environment. So far there has been no due<br />
diligence to identify the details about the teams and<br />
players. Very few institutions have charters outlining<br />
the respective responsibilities and very rarely are<br />
sanctions imposed. Corruption has become so omnipresent<br />
that the critics were finally heard by proving<br />
that this is detrimental for sports integrity in general,<br />
affects the respect of the public towards the players<br />
as well as the confidence in sports betting and the<br />
organisations managing these games and bets.<br />
MONITORING SYSTEM<br />
The EL Monitoring System has since then had a serious<br />
impact and the numbers prove it:<br />
From July 2009 to April <strong>2011</strong>:<br />
- 1,399 league matches have been monitored<br />
- 1,362 Champions League matches<br />
- 175 women’s football matches<br />
- 463 international matches<br />
- etc.<br />
A total of 3,743 matches have been closely watched<br />
by the group of experts in charge of the Monitoring<br />
System.<br />
In addition, 66 matches have been reported to UEFA<br />
and FIFA during this period.<br />
The problem of illegality in matches has now reached<br />
global dimensions and in the future the ELMS will<br />
extend its field of action beyond Europe to incorporate<br />
new Lottery members and broaden the Monitoring<br />
System to include all sorts of sports activities at<br />
an international level.<br />
EL signed an extension of the Memorandum of Understanding<br />
with Danske Spil for the period from<br />
June <strong>2011</strong> to May 2013. The member Lotteries very<br />
much appreciate the work achieved in this area, namely<br />
the adoption of clear regulations to protect the<br />
integrity of competitions, the implementation of verification,<br />
alert and precaution systems as well as improving<br />
the relationship with major sports organisations.<br />
They are happy to continue the collaboration<br />
with the office of the EL Monitoring System, which<br />
will contribute to strengthen their sports betting<br />
operations by assisting them not only to recognize<br />
the dangers in certain matches, but also to eliminate<br />
opportunities for corruption.<br />
Bernadette Lobjois<br />
Secretary General<br />
Danske Spil A/S in Brøndby/Denmark expanded the Monitoring<br />
System group. Chris Rasmussen joined Jens Nielsen, Head of Sports<br />
Betting Operations and also Chairman of the Sports Working Group.<br />
A monthly report is sent to the member Lotteries of the Monitoring<br />
System.<br />
36 NEWS 37 <strong>SEPTEMBER</strong> <strong>2011</strong>