Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Lord Faulkner of Worcester has asked Her Majesty's Government: What
discussions they have had with the Gambling Commission about requiring
betting organisations to conclude information-sharing agreements with sports
governing bodies as a licence condition for accepting bets on those sports.
Lord Davies of Oldham: My Lords, discussions have taken place over a range
of issues relating to sports and the Gambling Act. However, neither the
Government nor the commission believe that enforcing a policy of this nature
is necessary. The licensing arrangements are primarily for the proper
regulation of gambling, not sporting events. Nevertheless, the Government
have put in place statutory and non-statutory arrangements which provide
protections for both sporting events and the betting product. Lord Faulkner
of Worcester: My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply, which I fear
the sports organisations will find rather disappointing. Is he aware that
some very serious allegations have been made against four Premiership
football managers who, according to the allegations and contrary to the
rules of the Football Association, have been placing bets on Premiership
matches amounting to millions of pounds with the Gibraltar-based bookmaker,
Victor Chandler? The Football Association has attempted to investigate the
matter but Victor Chandler flatly refuses to provide the information it
needs in order to do so. Does my noble friend agree that the integrity of
sport is being compromised here and that this state of affairs can be dealt
with only if the Gambling Commission insists as a licence condition that the
betting organisations sign information exchange agreements with sports
governing bodies so that there is complete transparency in the sports
betting world? Lord Davies of Oldham: My Lords, I am grateful to my noble
friend, who has identified an issue of some concern. But it is for the
Football Association to pursue this issue with rigour. Statutory constraints
would be, and are, not only limited but almost negligible as regards
offshore betting. As my noble friend identified, the company at present
involved in these allegations is based in Gibraltar and outside our
jurisdiction. Lord Clement-Jones: My Lords, that is precisely the point.
Victor Chandler, the Gibraltar-based bookmaker in question, is based
oversees and, therefore, there are considerable issues under the Gambling
Act in being able to exercise any jurisdiction.

In July, the Sports Minister, Mr. Caborn, said:

"While the Gambling Commission has no jurisdiction over betting operators
licensed outside Great Britain, it is continuing to build upon its
co-operative relationships with overseas gambling regulators".

Does that mean anything? What is really happening? What is the Sports
Minister really doing to try to exercise at lease some kind of informal
control over these oversees betting operators?

Lord Davies of Oldham: My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord because he
has identified the constructive position that the Government are adopting.
With our 10-point plan, we are seeking to ensure that behaviour in this
country meets the requirements of disclosure, and we are looking towards
co-operation with other Governments and other gambling regulatory
authorities to ensure that those based overseas meet the same standards as
we expect in this country.