Government announces names for betting panel
THE government has drawn heavily on bookmaking and horseracing to fill a 13-strong, all-male task force, whose first job will be to report within six months on measures to uphold integrity in sports betting.
On panel: BHA boss Nic Coward
PICTURE: EDWARD WHITAKERSports minister Gerry Sutcliffe revealed the identity of the panel and its terms of reference on Wednesday, saying action was needed now “to tackle sports-betting corruption head-on.”
The project has been introduced in the wake of a number of sports-betting investigations, involving mainly football, snooker and tennis, though representing a tiny fraction of the markets offered daily by bookmakers.
Chairman of the new sports betting integrity panel is Rick Parry, founding chief executive of the Premier league, who is leaving Liverpool FC shortly after holding the same position for 12 years.
Panel members with a detailed knowledge of the subject include four associated directly in senior positions with betting operators – Mark Davies (Betfair), Mike O’Kane (Ladbrokes), Mike Smith (Tote) and Bill South (William Hill).
BHA independent director Ben Gunn and chief executive Nic Coward are other members.
Parry said: “Integrity and sport must go hand-in-hand and anything that threatens that bond of trust has to be stamped out."
Government’s sports betting integrity panel
Rick Parry, chairman, Liverpool FC CEO; Darren Bailey, FA director of governance & regulation; Simon Barker, Professional Players Federation director; Dave Boyle, Supporters Direct CEO; Nic Coward, BHA CEO; Chris Caisley, head of sports law group & partner at solicitors Walker Morris; Mark Davies, Betfair MD; Ben Gunn, BHA regulation director; Mike O’Kane, Ladbrokes group trading director; Ian Seabridge, Greater Manchester Police assistant chief constable; Mike Smith, Tote chairman; Bill South, William Hill director of security; Nick Tofiluk, Gambling Commission director ofregulation.
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