Brussels, 23/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 20 May, sports ministers organised a public debate on online gaming, particularly illegal betting, which has a negative impact on sport. This question was also examined by representatives from sporting bodies (the Olympics Committee, the Federal Football Union, European lotteries and online gaming associations etc) at lunch, as part of a high-level structured dialogue between the national and European Union public authorities and sporting community. The issue is a major problem and challenge requiring a concerted approach by our respective governments and all the different stakeholders, explained the Hungarian minister for sport, Attila Czene. The European Commission is particularly attentive to all concerns that have an impact on the integrity of sport, explained the commissioner responsible for sport, Androulla Vassiliou. Michel Barnier recently published a Green Paper on online betting, whilst Cecilia Malmström has developed a raft of anti-corruption measures, which she pointed out also applied to sport and bet-rigging.
Betting in sport now accounts for 32% of income generated by gaming and, according to estimates, the illegal betting sector is making progress and accounts for around €140 billion a year, from which sport itself does not make any money at all. Irregular and illegal betting are also clearly linked to match rigging and money laundering and subsequently constitute a serious threat to sport and society. The majority of ministers recognise that this involves a very serious problem but the consequences vary from one member state to the next and regulation is not uniform. Nonetheless, it is necessary to protect the integrity of sport and to ensure sustainable financing but specific action at a European level is premature, explain ministers. First of all, discussions are required, together with consultations and cooperation between all the different stakeholders, namely the member states, sporting organisations and online gaming operators. (I.L.trans/fl)