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== Definition == |
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{{Criminal law}} |
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'''Courtsiding''' is the practice of transmitting information from sporting events for the purpose of betting, or of placing bets directly from a sporting event. It has been observed as occurring most prominently, although not exclusively, in tennis. It arises as a result of the delay between live action and digital television broadcasts. |
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'''Courtsiding''' has been alleged to be a [[crime]] in [[Victoria (Australia)]], where bets are placed on sports fixtures from the area the sport is taking place, in the time between the event occurring and it being relayed to betting agents.<ref name="Guardian">{{cite web | url=http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/jan/15/courtside-betting-man-charged-australian-open | title=Australian Open: man charged with courtside betting | work=The Guardian | date=15 January 2014 | accessdate=19 January 2014}}</ref> However, the only case to be brought against anyone was dropped due to lack of evidence before reaching court. |
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== Legal Issues == |
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Courtsiding is not a criminal offence in countries where gambling is legal. In many cases, however, it may contravene the conditions of entry to the venue, including at ATP and WTA tennis events. The only known arrest in relation to courtsiding occurred at the Australian Open in 2014 when A British man, Daniel Thomas Dobson, was arrested by Victoria Police having been spotted using an electronic device sewn into his shorts to transmit data from the courts. Charges were dropped in March 2014 because the legislation under which Mr Dobson had been charged - the Integrity In Sports Act - made no mention whatsoever of the practice of courtsiding, and instead was targeted at match-fixing, leading the Office of Public Prosecutions to conclude that there was no prospect of a conviction. |
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If committed, it is "engaging in conduct that would corrupt a betting outcome".<ref name="Telegraph "/> The wrongdoing takes place when a spectator at a sporting event passes on, or uses, information which leads to bets being placed on 'in-game markets' before the bookmakers receive the information, and change the odds due to the in-play happening.<ref name="Telegraph "/> |
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The Gambling Commission in the United Kingdom issued a statement in February 2014 confirming that courtsiding was not an offence under the Gambling Act. |
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It has been claimed that courtsiding became illegal in [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], Australia, in 2013; with it comes a prison sentence of up to 10 years.<ref name="Telegraph "/> It had been alleged to be an offence under the [[Gambling Act 2005]].<ref name="Telegraph "/> [[Chris Eaton (police officer)|Chris Eaton]] opined, that match fixers had turned to courtsiding due to it being "easier to accomplish".<ref name="Telegraph "/> The UK Gambling Commission, however, have subsequently confirmed that courtsiding is not considered an offence in the UK.<ref name="GamblingCompliance">{{cite web | url=http://www.gamblingcompliance.com/node/53151 | title=Sporting Data Reviews 'Courtsiding' After Australian Open Arrest | work=Gambling Compliance | date=20 January 2014 | accessdate=20 January 2014}}</ref> |
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Courtsiding may be illegal in the United States under the Federal Wire Act, however there have been no test cases to date. |
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[[Craig Tiley]] later said said that it could "arguably could be illegal, maybe some cases legal", and the chairman and CEO of the tour said that he felt it was not a major issue.<ref name="Reuters1" >{{cite web | url = http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/22/tennis-open-courtsiders-idUSL3N0KV2NZ20140122 | title = Tennis-'Courtsiders' court controversy at Australian Open}}</ref> |
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== Occurrences == |
== Occurrences == |
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In February 2008 three men were ejected from the Diamond Games tennis in Antwerp for gambling-related activities courtside. |
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At the [[2013 Australian Open]], there was a case of courtsiding, but the necessary legislation needed in order to commit an arrest was not in place.<ref name="Independent "/><ref name="Reuters "/> |
At the [[2013 Australian Open]], there was a case of courtsiding, but the necessary legislation needed in order to commit an arrest was not in place.<ref name="Independent "/><ref name="Reuters "/> |
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Police arrested Dobson after intelligence was received about his utilisation of the "seconds-long" gap between on-court happenings and television broadcasts,<ref name="Telegraph "/> reportedly 10 seconds;<ref name="Nyt">{{cite web | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/22/sports/tennis/tenniss-new-concern-data-harvesting.html?_r=0 | title=Tennis’s New Concern: Data Harvesting | work=The New York Times | date=21 January 2014 | accessdate=4 February 2014 | author=Bishop, Greg and Martin, John}}</ref> police feel that it was not an "isolated incident",<ref name="Independent">{{cite web | url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/australian-open-british-man-arrested-in-connection-with-alleged-illegal-betting-syndicate-suspected-of-courtsiding-9060641.html | title=Australian Open 2014: British man arrested in connection with alleged illegal betting syndicate suspected of 'courtsiding' | work=The Independent | date=15 January 2014 | accessdate=4 February 2014 | author=Newman, Paul}}</ref> and stated that "We believe he is part of a syndicate".<ref name="Independent "/><ref name="Reuters">{{cite web | url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/01/15/tennis-open-corruption-idUKL3N0KP1K220140115 | title=Tennis-Man held for 'courtsiding' at Australian Open | work=Reuters | date=15 January 2014 | accessdate=4 February 2014 | author=Ransom, Ian}}</ref> |
Police arrested Dobson after intelligence was received about his utilisation of the "seconds-long" gap between on-court happenings and television broadcasts,<ref name="Telegraph "/> reportedly 10 seconds;<ref name="Nyt">{{cite web | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/22/sports/tennis/tenniss-new-concern-data-harvesting.html?_r=0 | title=Tennis’s New Concern: Data Harvesting | work=The New York Times | date=21 January 2014 | accessdate=4 February 2014 | author=Bishop, Greg and Martin, John}}</ref> police feel that it was not an "isolated incident",<ref name="Independent">{{cite web | url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/australian-open-british-man-arrested-in-connection-with-alleged-illegal-betting-syndicate-suspected-of-courtsiding-9060641.html | title=Australian Open 2014: British man arrested in connection with alleged illegal betting syndicate suspected of 'courtsiding' | work=The Independent | date=15 January 2014 | accessdate=4 February 2014 | author=Newman, Paul}}</ref> and stated that "We believe he is part of a syndicate".<ref name="Independent "/><ref name="Reuters">{{cite web | url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/01/15/tennis-open-corruption-idUKL3N0KP1K220140115 | title=Tennis-Man held for 'courtsiding' at Australian Open | work=Reuters | date=15 January 2014 | accessdate=4 February 2014 | author=Ransom, Ian}}</ref> |
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However, Dobson's employers, Sporting Data, later denied any involvement in illegal betting or any other illegal activity, issuing a statement that condemned Dobson's arrest as a "grossly unfair accusation".<ref name="Sporting Data">{{cite web | url=http://sportingdata.co.uk/ | title=Sporting Data | date = 16 January 2014}}</ref> |
However, Dobson's employers, Sporting Data, later denied any involvement in illegal betting or any other illegal activity, issuing a statement that condemned Dobson's arrest as a "grossly unfair accusation".<ref name="Sporting Data">{{cite web | url=http://sportingdata.co.uk/ | title=Sporting Data | date = 16 January 2014}}</ref> Charges against Dobson were formally dropped in March 2014. |
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The England and Wales Cricket Board released the fact that in summer 2013 there were 23 people ejected for what was believed to be courtsiding.<ref name="Telegraph "/> No arrests were made in any of these cases. |
The England and Wales Cricket Board released the fact that in summer 2013 there were 23 people ejected for what was believed to be courtsiding.<ref name="Telegraph "/> No arrests were made in any of these cases. |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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[[Category:Organized crime activity]] |
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[[Category:Sports law]] |
[[Category:Sports law]] |
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[[Category:Victoria (Australia)]] |
Revision as of 01:29, 11 March 2014
Definition
Courtsiding is the practice of transmitting information from sporting events for the purpose of betting, or of placing bets directly from a sporting event. It has been observed as occurring most prominently, although not exclusively, in tennis. It arises as a result of the delay between live action and digital television broadcasts.
Legal Issues
Courtsiding is not a criminal offence in countries where gambling is legal. In many cases, however, it may contravene the conditions of entry to the venue, including at ATP and WTA tennis events. The only known arrest in relation to courtsiding occurred at the Australian Open in 2014 when A British man, Daniel Thomas Dobson, was arrested by Victoria Police having been spotted using an electronic device sewn into his shorts to transmit data from the courts. Charges were dropped in March 2014 because the legislation under which Mr Dobson had been charged - the Integrity In Sports Act - made no mention whatsoever of the practice of courtsiding, and instead was targeted at match-fixing, leading the Office of Public Prosecutions to conclude that there was no prospect of a conviction.
The Gambling Commission in the United Kingdom issued a statement in February 2014 confirming that courtsiding was not an offence under the Gambling Act.
Courtsiding may be illegal in the United States under the Federal Wire Act, however there have been no test cases to date.
Occurrences
In February 2008 three men were ejected from the Diamond Games tennis in Antwerp for gambling-related activities courtside.
At the 2013 Australian Open, there was a case of courtsiding, but the necessary legislation needed in order to commit an arrest was not in place.[1][2]
The first arrest for courtsiding was at the 2014 Australian Open, when a 22-year-old British man,[3] later named as Daniel Dobson,[4] allegedly had an "electronic device" sewn into his shorts, in order to relay scores to a syndicate.[5]
Police arrested Dobson after intelligence was received about his utilisation of the "seconds-long" gap between on-court happenings and television broadcasts,[3] reportedly 10 seconds;[6] police feel that it was not an "isolated incident",[1] and stated that "We believe he is part of a syndicate".[1][2]
However, Dobson's employers, Sporting Data, later denied any involvement in illegal betting or any other illegal activity, issuing a statement that condemned Dobson's arrest as a "grossly unfair accusation".[7] Charges against Dobson were formally dropped in March 2014.
The England and Wales Cricket Board released the fact that in summer 2013 there were 23 people ejected for what was believed to be courtsiding.[3] No arrests were made in any of these cases.
References
- ^ a b c Newman, Paul (15 January 2014). "Australian Open 2014: British man arrested in connection with alleged illegal betting syndicate suspected of 'courtsiding'". The Independent. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
- ^ a b Ransom, Ian (15 January 2014). "Tennis-Man held for 'courtsiding' at Australian Open". Reuters. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
- ^ a b c Rumsby, Ben (16 January 2014). "Sport on alert after first arrest for 'courtsiding'". The Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. pp. S8.
{{cite web}}
:|access-date=
requires|url=
(help); Missing or empty|url=
(help) - ^ Rumsby, Ben (16 January 2014). "Australian Open 2014: Employers of British man charged over 'courtsiding' deny he broke the law". The Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
- ^ Rumsby, Ben (16 January 2014). "Sports betting firm denies match fixing in 'courtsiding' charge storm". National Post. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
- ^ Bishop, Greg and Martin, John (21 January 2014). "Tennis's New Concern: Data Harvesting". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Sporting Data". 16 January 2014.