Established in 2005, ESSA is an early warning system that functions to protect the integrity of sport by monitoring betting activity, player and participant education among others. ESSA works with sports governing bodies as well as gaming operators to help prevent cheaters and fraudsters from having their hands in the outcomes of sporting events.
ESSA, the European Sports Security Association, just added two new operators to bring their grand total to fifteen. Both William Hill and Paddy Power are the latest operators to join ESSA and they now join a long list of big name operators including bwin, Bet-Clic, Unibet, PartyGaming and Sportingbet to name a few.
Bill South, director of security at William Hill says, “We are constantly aware of the need for all of sport’s stakeholders to work together to combat match-fixing”. Also, “We believe that ESSA, with its excellent links not only with sports governing bodies but also regulators and other intelligence units, is the correct platform to coordinate this effort.” He added.
Integrity has always been important in sport. Whether it’s upheld is another question, we’ve certainly seen plenty of scandals in cricket and soccer to know just how quickly that integrity can be compromised for the right price. Operators have to do their part and no doubt the watchful eye of ESSA never sleeps.
