Education key to stopping gambling-related match-fixing

The need to provide better education and raise greater awareness among sportsmen and women about integrity issues associated with gambling, most notably match-fixing, were the key messages that emerged from a conference on integrity in sports betting held at Lord’s cricket ground last week.

And just for once, the event, organised by the international betting integrity body Essa, did not feature calls for gambling operators to pay for the improvements. Instead, the emphasis from speakers with experience on both sides of the issue was on sports' governing bodies getting their own houses in order.

West Brom legend Brendan Batson, who now acts as executive chairman of the Professional Players Federation, outlined the difficulties facing modern players, especially in the lower leagues.