IOC wants a cut of betting revenues
Source: Agencies |
March 1, 2011, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
SPORTS organizers and federations should receive a cut from betting revenues and governments need to issue tighter controls on sports gambling, International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge urged on Monday.
Speaking to reporters on the eve of a meeting with government ministers, Interpol and European bodies on illegal and irregular betting practices, Rogge said the IOC favored a greater government involvement in betting practices.
"Specifically we are in favor of a system where betting operators have to be licensed by the government," said Rogge in a conference call, adding this would help monitor irregular betting patterns and also the companies' financial flows.
"Sports organizers, national federations and international federations would have a fair return for all their efforts for organizing the sport. They should be recognized with a return from financial income," Rogge added.
Strict control
At the moment, legal sports betting operates in different ways in many countries, with some exercising a strict control through a state monopoly and others having liberalized the market.
Government ministers from Australia, France, Switzerland and Britain will also attend the meeting at the IOC headquarters in the Swiss city of Lausanne, as well as representatives of the United Nations and sports betting operators.
"We want to establish links with governments. We want to start with these countries because they have already legislated or are on the verge of legislating.
"They are aware of the dangers (of illegal and irregular betting)," Rogge said.
He urged governments to monitor betting companies to "control if there is any money laundering".
"I think you have to assume like in doping, all sports are affected and none is totally free, but those sports with the biggest audiences will be affected (by illegal and irregular betting).
"That goes without saying," said Rogge.
Governments would also assist in cracking down on illegal betting rings through police operations such as phone tapping and luggage searches, he said.
"We cannot do that," Rogge said.
Speaking to reporters on the eve of a meeting with government ministers, Interpol and European bodies on illegal and irregular betting practices, Rogge said the IOC favored a greater government involvement in betting practices.
"Specifically we are in favor of a system where betting operators have to be licensed by the government," said Rogge in a conference call, adding this would help monitor irregular betting patterns and also the companies' financial flows.
"Sports organizers, national federations and international federations would have a fair return for all their efforts for organizing the sport. They should be recognized with a return from financial income," Rogge added.
Strict control
At the moment, legal sports betting operates in different ways in many countries, with some exercising a strict control through a state monopoly and others having liberalized the market.
Government ministers from Australia, France, Switzerland and Britain will also attend the meeting at the IOC headquarters in the Swiss city of Lausanne, as well as representatives of the United Nations and sports betting operators.
"We want to establish links with governments. We want to start with these countries because they have already legislated or are on the verge of legislating.
"They are aware of the dangers (of illegal and irregular betting)," Rogge said.
He urged governments to monitor betting companies to "control if there is any money laundering".
"I think you have to assume like in doping, all sports are affected and none is totally free, but those sports with the biggest audiences will be affected (by illegal and irregular betting).
"That goes without saying," said Rogge.
Governments would also assist in cracking down on illegal betting rings through police operations such as phone tapping and luggage searches, he said.
"We cannot do that," Rogge said.
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