Betting’s impact on sporting standards: Scandals and solutions

In recent years, the sports betting industry has undergone significant changes, sparking debates worldwide. High-profile cases in the NFL, European association football, and other sports have highlighted the challenges posed by sports betting violations.  This article explores the evolving landscape of sports betting and its impact on various sports organisations.

Sporting codes of conduct

Earlier this year, the NFL sanctioned suspensions for no less than 5 players for violations against the league’s internal gambling policy. This policy at the time was seen as quite extreme, however, in comparison to numerous other codes of sporting conduct, it seemed well within the realms of justifiability.

NFL betting policy

The NFL’s gambling policy states that all team personnel, including playing staff, are prohibited from betting on any NFL contest at any time. This also extends to any form of betting on any type of sport while on league property. This may include practice fields and facilities along with match day venues. What is most significant about these suspensions, however, is that none of the bets placed affected the outcome of any of the matches in question. It was deemed that the players who bet did not have any insider information and could not control or alter the outcome of these matches. Moreover, according to the NFL’s policy, players may not bet on any other leagues or sports in any capacity.

Disciplinary action in Association Football

Sports betting in recent times has reared its unsavoury presence in numerous sports during the past year with sports betting infringements even being perpetuated as far as the world of European football. One high-profile case that appeared earlier this year was that of Ivan Toney’s 11-month suspension for a total of 262 betting-related offences, however, this is not the most significant case to break this year.

Italian betting scandal

In October of 2023, Juventus footballer Nicolò Fagioli was sentenced to a 7-month suspension for breaching Article 24 of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC)’s Code of Sporting Justice.

The FIGC’s set of regulations is yet another codification of player conduct that prohibits player participation in gambling.

FIGC’s Code of Sporting Justice

Article 24 also prohibits any individuals connected with the FIGC from participating in these activities extending to managers, stakeholders and members of professional and non-professional clubs. Subsequent to Fagioli’s ban, Newcastle United’s latest summer signing was also implemented in the scandal for being found guilty of betting on his former club, AC Milan’s, fixtures. Significantly, neither Fagioli nor more importantly Tonali, who bet on his own team, were found in any way guilty of match-fixing or of influencing the outcome of the match.

Pinto in the NHL

The most recent in the minefield of sports betting violations is that of Ottawa Senator’s center, Shane Pinto, who has now been banned for 41 games for violating the NHL’s gambling policy.

Similar to the cases within the NFL, Pinto placed bets on hockey matches that were not organised or affiliated with the NHL. The NHL’s stance on sports betting is not as clear as it is among the federations aforementioned. It seems the intention so far with this ban is that the NHL does not want their athletes to bet on any form of professional hockey.

Sports betting promotion

In light of the numerous and increasingly frequent, high-profile sports betting infringements, the question of causation must be asked.  Many regulatory bodies are coming under criticism for their stance on playing staff betting when such a large amount of sports betting-derived sponsorship revenue is enjoyed by the leagues and on many occasions, the clubs. The thought is that when surrounded by all of this promotional material is unfair to ask players to abstain to such a heavy degree.  Nonetheless, steps have been taken in recent months to curb this over-exposure with a heavy amount of promotional material being aimed at to reduce these issues.

Target on sports betting advertising

Earlier this year, teams of the English Premier League agreed to voluntarily remove betting advertising from the front of their playing kits. This did not extend to all facets of advertising within the game, however, the industry believed it to be a significant step.  Additionally, a precedence has been set for figures of influence towards minors and betting advertising.

Ex-Manchester United and England footballer, Gary Neville, was recently the subject of a SkyBet advertisement which was banned by the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

This broke the ASA’s regulations in the capacity that Gary Neville is deemed to have a highly influential presence with under-18s, making an advertisement of this nature too conducive to underage gambling. A similar case involving former heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua also broke around a month later despite numerous disputes in both cases.

Australian preventative measures

Another highly significant market is Australia, where advertisements are being targeted in the context of television.  Over one million advertisements were shared across free-to-air TV in the Oceanic nation last year, prompting bans in place in certain states to be adopted nationwide.  Restrictions are now being called for by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) which has suggested a ban between peak times would be a sufficient starting point.

Additionally, Australia’s National Rugby League (NRL) has also offered to follow suit with the English Premier League and completely remove gambling advertisements from their playing jerseys. 

Join us in Malta between the 13 – 17 November for SiGMA Europe 2023

SiGMA Europe’s Malta Week festival brings together a diverse and international group of industry leaders for a convergence of expo, conference, and networking. The event will be held at the Mediterranean Maritime Hub (MMH), a larger, more dynamic venue that promises a raw, industrial, and unconventional space unlike anything ever used before.