Government Unit to Investigate Bet Rigging

Sports betting has become one of the nations favourite gambling pastimes and in the wake of recent allegations regarding match fixing the Government has thought it necessary to establish a body to investigate the activities of criminal gangs and corrupt sport stars. 

The new Sports Betting Intelligence Unit has been set up to collect and analyse data regarding match fixing and results rigging. Hugh Robertson, the Minister for Sport said that “Match fixing is a cancer that destroys the integrity of sport and we are determined to do whatever we can to stamp it out.“ 

As recently as last Friday further allegations of match rigging were levelled against the Pakistani Cricket team in their one-day match against England. Investigations are continuing into the actions of three other members of the team, including captain Salman Butt, all of whom have been suspended after allegations concerning the Lords Test Match in August where they are believed to have taken bribes to throw the game. 

The Government is asking for professional sporting bodies such as the Professional Players Federation (PPF) to draft a code of conduct for its members, and to promote education to youngsters attracted to games about the dangers that these people pose and the career threatening decisions such actions can have. 

They are also contacting sports ministers in countries such as India, where gambling is illegal and match fixing has proven to be common in an attempt to regulate the problem. A meeting between Robertson and the International Cricket Council president Sharad Pawar is also planned, to discuss the situation.