Bookmakers waive exclusive rights as row over FA Cup broadcast deal continues

A number of leading bookmakers have said they will waive their exclusive rights to stream FA Cup matches with immediate effect as the furore over broadcast deals with the Football Association continued on Thursday.

The deals, in which the FA sold broadcast rights to operators via sports media company IMG, allowed football fans to watch the games through bookmaker websites such as bet365 as long as they had funds in their account or had placed a bet in the previous 24 hours.

The agreements had been in place since the start of the 2018-19 season, but a newspaper report on the situation this week resulted in them coming under fire, with politicians and campaigners claiming they would put vulnerable people at risk.

The issue was the subject of an urgent question in the House of Commons, with Labour MP Carolyn Harris describing the deal with bet365 as "shameful".

bet365 deal with FA under fire amid increasing pressure on industry

Brigid Simmonds, chairman of the industry trade body the Betting and Gaming Council, said: "Our members did not seek exclusivity for the rights to screen FA Cup games.

"They are therefore happy for IMG to offer the rights to screen these games to the Football Association or another appropriate body so that the games can be viewed for free by the public with immediate effect."

The statement was supported by bet365, Ladbrokes Coral's parent company GVC, Paddy Power Betfair's parent company Flutter, William Hill and Kindred, the parent company of 32Red and Unibet.

It was welcomed by sports minister Nigel Adams, who tweeted that it was up to the FA and IMG "to ensure that fans can view these FA Cup games without needing to register for or to place a bet".

Nigel Adams: sports minister welcomed bookmakers' statement

Earlier in the day Harris, the chair of the Gambling Related Harm All-Party Parliamentary Group, claimed that problem gambling was "endemic" and should be treated "as a public health crisis".

"Everything about this deal is shameful, everything about this deal needs to be dealt with, everything about the Gambling Act needs reform," she added.

Adams told the Commons: "While many people enjoy gambling as a leisure pursuit, we can't forget that it carries a high risk of harm and can seriously impact individuals, families and communities."

He said the government was "very angry about this arrangement" and that he had spoken "at some length" to the FA since the story broke.

Adams, who also reiterated that the government would be reviewing the Gambling Act, added: "We have asked the FA in no uncertain terms to look at the deal and to see what opportunities there are to rescind this particular element. I will be meeting face to face with the FA next week."

Streaming progress

Sky Bet have begun streaming live races from racecourses including those under the Arena Racing Company banner again in an apparent thawing in relations between the two sides.

The online bookmaking giant has been in a stand-off with the courses forming the At The Races/Sky Sports Racing group over new arrangements for online streaming and data rights.

Neither side wished to comment when approached by the Racing Post on Thursday.

Read this next:

Bookmakers could face ban on VIP status for big-spending customers

Turnover and profits soar as bet365 post strong set of accounts

The betting shop: 'I think retail is a long way from dead'

For the freshest betting advice, based on latest going and market conditions, don't miss the Live Tipster every afternoon. Just click Raceday Live at racingpost.com or the mobile app