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I’ve been meaning to post something about the case reported earlier in the week relating to a young British man who was arrested and charged with an offence known as ‘courtsiding’.
Basically, as far as I understand, he is alleged to have been transmitting, through a hidden electronic device, information relating to outcomes, information which, it is alleged, was being used by others to beat broadcast time delays and give them unfair advantage.
Such activity is illegal in the State of Victoria, where new laws relating to this an similar activities were recently introduced.
The allegation specifically states he had been “engaging in conduct that would corrupt a betting outcome”The young lad is in the employ of a British company, Sporting Data Limited, and others are under investigation. Sporting Data Limited deny any wrong-doing, by their employee or by their company. Their view is that there was no corruption-type activity occuring.
In an article in the Telegraph (link below) the following paragraph caught my eye. ‘UK police said earlier this week that courtsiders could be arrested under the Gambling Act 2005, while Britain’s major sports all said the practice was banned under their own ground regulations.’
Does that include racetracks? Are people booking boxes on racetracks in order to play racing markets? If so, are they using their ‘courtside’ position to gain unfair advantages on exchange (and maybe other) markets? And, if tehy are, is it therefore illegal? And if it is illegal are racecourses complicit, given that they must have a fair idea what is going on, if indeed anything IS going on?
They could be arrested under the Gambling Act in theory. In practice, The Gambling Commission have taken a very laissez-faire approach and interpreted the ‘fairness in gambling’ clause in their remit in a light-touch way.
They held an enquiry into the fairness of in-running betting 4 or 5 years ago, box number nine and all, and were persuaded by arguments that it was all fair and above board.
As far as they’re concerned Britain is ‘Open for Business’ when it comes to in-running.
I’ve no idea if the guy playing with his genitals on Centre Court has anything to worry about with the Australian authorities. I would say it’s London to a Brick that the UK Gambling Commission won’t be feeling his collar.
There are many gamblers at the races making profit from the time delay. I speak to one fairly regularly. However, don’t think they are doing anything corrupt.
This Australian case sounds like it is about the result, ie a "certain" winner rather than "probable".
EDIT: Apparently not! 
Value Is EverythingThere’s a good deal of skepticism going on in AUS about this case.
http://www.sportismadeforbetting.com/
Value Is EverythingCan’t see any way they can make this stick.
Time delays are everywhere. Those actually at the event have the true zero seconds delay, but there are differences in all sorts of viewing outlets. Who’s to say what time delay is ok and what is not? Channel 4 and Racing UK have different time delays. Any gambler betting on the slower channel may be at a considerable disadvantage. Does that mean gambling while looking at the faster channel should be deemed illegal?
Value Is EverythingDoes that mean gambling while looking at the faster channel should be deemed illegal?
When that channel is deliberately, corruptly delayed for financial gain and to disadvantage others, yes.
ATR, Betfair live video, it’s be going on for years but nothing is ever done. Towcester again yesterday, it’s about time the fraud squad did a thorough investigation into the "live" pictures of horse racing being transmitted in Britain.
EDIT: Apparently not! 
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