One of the biggest problems cited by online gambling opponents is that
legalizing sports betting will lead to an increase in corruption and far less
integrity in the sports world overall.
However, the opposition can rest easy now, after a UK Gambling Commission
report found that this simply was not the case, and that legal and regulated
casinos and sports betting sites actually managed to defend the integrity of the
sports in a much more effective way.
Over the last 18 months, the UK Gambling Commission has received over fifty
different complaints regarding suspicious wagering patterns, and other problems
that could be classed as corruption in the sports betting field.
Out of these fifty, over half of them were found to be without any basis and
immediately discarded. The results of the 20 or so cases are still pending,
however only a handful will even be investigated.
In total, the UK Gambling Commission found that legalizing online sports
betting and casino gambling did not have a detrimental affect on the integrity
of the sports world, since the number of suspicious results were equal to or
even less than before the laws changed.
Unlike in the United States, where bodies such as the National Football
League continue to petition the government not to legalize sports betting for
fear that the industry will become corrupt, European operators and authorities
recognize the need to work hand in hand in order to increase transparency and
decrease instances of corruption.
The Chairman of the UK Gambling Commission, Brian Pomeroy said: "While
limited evidence has emerged to so far support the widespread concerns about the
risks to betting integrity, combating those risks by working effectively with
our partners is a key priority for the Gambling Commission. Our integrity team
is already working with CCPR, sports governing bodies and betting operators to
develop enhanced joint working as we strive to maintain the integrity of betting
in the United Kingdom."
