Sports gambling is the topic du jour around the globe and the debate doesn’t show any signs of abating any time soon. Many countries are discussing how sports gambling can impact economies, as well as individuals, and there seems to be almost a daily flow of new rules and regulations coming from every corner of the globe to control the space. Now, recommended changes in Australia could soon be introduced that would have wide-spread implications on punters, as well as on players.
If the recommendations are approved, players in Australia could be locked up for giving information to bookies and previous minor infractions would be made criminal offenses. Australia would also see the creation of a new law enforcement agency, the national sports integrity commission (NSIC), which would have a generous amount of latitude in its duties.
The NSIC would be comprised of agencies that include the Criminal Intelligence Commission, the Australian Federal Police and the Home Affairs Department. It would be able to request electronic surveillance of officials, athletes and coaches who it feels are involved in fixing matches, even for passing along insider information.
The commission wouldn’t have authority over just the professional sports leagues. It would also be involved in junior and community sports associations, as well. Any athlete convicted of being even remotely connected to organized crime could be sent to prison.
Australia’s government has already set up a think tank to explore the recommendations and to discuss them with both the states and national sporting organizations. Bridget McKenzie, the country’s sports minister, is behind the program and is already pushing for the think tank to be established as soon as possible. She said, “Integrity in sport matters to us as Australians. This is a trans-national issue and affecting sport right across the globe.”
James Wood, inspector of the Police Integrity Commission and member of the Queen’s Council, led the study that produced the recommendations. He feels that the absence of a well-resourced organization that can respond to possible corruption in sports is a huge setback and is also urging for quick adoption of the proposals. He said that it is “critical to have eyes” on what is happening in the sports world, especially overseas, asserting, “What is happening overseas is coming here. It is critical to maintain our sports integrity reputation, and to have proper safeguards.”
