Bettor Safe Than Sorry: Aussie Open Attempts To Stop Gambling

Australian Open organizers have created "a round-the-clock integrity hot line and mounted an aggressive education campaign" in response to the gambling allegations that have plagued tennis in recent months, as well as "shutting down the on-site gambling window and shutting down on-site access to real-time gambling Web sites," according to Christoper Clarey of the N.Y. TIMES. Signs at Melbourne Park welcoming players read, "Tennis Australia has a zero tolerance policy on illegal gambling, match fixing and the communication of sensitive information which may affect the outcome of a match and will investigate all reported instances." While the sport as a whole is "still researching its options and working out the details of the collective integrity unit being created by its multiple governing bodies," the Australian Open had to "reach conclusions and move ahead quickly." Australian Open Tournament Dir Craig Tiley: "We couldn't wait, because we had the event. So we went ahead and did our own environmental review three months ago." While a cellphone ban was considered and rejected, the tournament has banned laptops from the stands "unless their owners secure formal permission," and  "more detailed" background checks are being performed on individuals seeking credentials ( N.Y. TIMES, 1/15 ). BETTORS TARGET WOMEN : While Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Chair & CEO Larry Scott noted "less than 10" women have reported being approached by gamblers to fix matches, he said, "I believe there are people who have been approached who have not come forward. But we learned enough, let me put it this way, the first half of 2007 to become much more concerned and spring into a new level of action." Martin Vassallo Arguello, whose suspicious victory in an August match against Nikolay Davydenko in Poland initiated the ATP Tour's investigation into gambling in the sport, "harshly criticized the tour's new integrity policies," calling "the fact he could be put in the position of being forced to inform on his colleagues ... 'political terrorism'" ( L.A. TIMES, 1/15 ). GAMBLING THE NEW DRUG : ESPN tennis analyst Patrick McEnroe said, "Tennis has been way ahead of the curve when it comes to drug testing. ... Gambling, overall, I think is a bigger threat. Tennis is a very easy game to fix." McEnroe added: "When you have players saying they have been approached, that throws up a red flag. That's why this has to be dealt with pretty quickly and severely." In West Palm Beach, Charles Elmore noted that the four Grand Slam tournaments, the ATP and WTA "have launched an independent analysis of the sport's 'integrity' regulations" ( PALM BEACH POST, 1/13 ).

Tiley Says Australian Open Began Putting Anti- Gambling Measures In Place Three Months Ago