The Sports Bookie Blog

Big Brother Betting Fix and Driving UK Punters offshore

May 21st, 2007

Two betting news items that may be of interest:

Big Brother warned of betting fix
Bosses of the Big Brother television series have been warned by representatives from the betting industry that Far East gambling syndicates are plotting to fix the show by rigging eviction votes. The shows producers were told how cartels have access to technology which can be used to hijack the public vote, although a spokesperson responded, saying the voting system was independently adjudicated by the Electoral Reform Society.

Oh, and that’s s’posed to makes me feel better?! … BTW the best bookmaker for all novelty betting is canny Irish bookie… PaddyPower.com

Bookmakers to contribute share of profits to sport
The UK government has agreed to support demands for bookmakers to contribute a share of their profits to the country’s five major sports – football, tennis, both codes of rugby and cricket. The sports governing bodies have been arguing that growth in gambling revenue from sports other than racing entitles them to a share of profits.

They also have said that the growing betting market threatens the integrity of their events and will cost more to police. Sports minister Richard Caborn said that he would be contacting bookmakers shortly in an attempt to negotiate a settlement. 

Bookmakers are thought to be pushing for a voluntary payment of £5 million and £10 million annually in the short term, although they would consider a system similar to the levy paid to horseracing, which sees a percentage of profits passed over to the sports. 

The government have agreed that the sports have a persuasive “moral case” for a cut of the estimated £500m annual turnover in sports betting.

Any UK industry-wide ‘sports tax’ could directly result in bookies increasing their margins – with poorer odds offered to punters – and more online betting at top non-UK bookies (like PinnacleSports.com for Handicap betting) 

Entry Filed under: Sports Betting