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March 11th Tennis news ... Bet On French Open at betonfrenchopen.com
FRENCH TENNIS EXEC APPOINTED TO HEAD ONLINE REGULATORY BODY
2021-03-26
ARJEL - a new acronym to remember
A statement on the French government website www.premier-ministre.gouv.fr/acteurs/gouvernement/conseils_ministres_35/.../jeux_argent_hasard_ligne_63045.html, widely reported in the French media yesterday, delivers further information on French moves to open up that country's gambling markets (see previous InfoPowa reports).
The statement announces the appointment of the French Tennis Federation's secretary general, Jean-Francois Vilotte, to head up a new French online gambling regulatory authority with the rather ponderous title of l’autorité administrative indépendante de régulation des jeux en ligne (ARJEL). The body will be responsible for issuing the 5 year online gambling licenses envisaged in the draft legislation opening up the market from January 2010.
The statement also confirms that the proposed legislation to effect the liberalisation of the French market in compliance with European Commission principles has been placed before the French Council of Ministers.
Vilotte is a name known to most online gambling corporate execs due to his involvement in the French Tennis Federation's legal assaults on Internet gambling companies such as Ladbrokes, Betfair, Unibet, Expekt and Bwin last year regarding Internet betting on tennis matches.
Early reaction from the European Gaming and Betting Association, which numbers most of the major European gambling corporates among its members, has not been favourable to the appointment, with the organisation suggesting that the French government justify Vilotte's appointment to a post where an unbiased and independent approach is of significant importance.
FRENCH TENNIS COMPLAINT DISMISSED
2021-04-29
Online gambling companies prevail in litigation over FFT attempt to stop betting
The European Gaming and Betting Association has welcomed a decision by a Belgian court in Liege against a French Tennis Association complaint which sought to prevent online gambling groups such as Bwin, Ladbrokes and Betfair from taking bets on the Roland Garros French Open and Paris Masters 2008.
In three rulings issued this week in cases brought forward by the French Tennis Federation (FFT) in Belgium against EU licensed operators, the Liège first instance court rejected all allegations of the complainant, confirming that the operators concerned do not violate the FFT’s rights as the event organisers of Roland Garros and Paris Masters. Belgian players will therefore continue to enjoy this popular entertainment in 2008.
EGBA reports that the judge, taking into consideration the corporate responsibility of the EU operators concerned and the procedures in place “preventing all anonymous bets, ensuring perfect traceability” concluded that the operators had behaved in a prudent and diligent manner.
Moreover, the judge took stock of “...the various measures, notably for the protection of minors” implemented by Bwin, as well as its membership of “ESSA (“European Sport Security Association”) which aims to guarantee the integrity of sports betting offers and to keep sports honest and free from fraud”.
The judge also considered that the “...simple mention of the name of a sports event is a necessary indication for the online betting activity” which therefore “...cannot be considered as an act of parasitism since its sole purpose is to let the player identify which sport event to place a bet on”.
The Belgian judge ordered the French Tennis Federation to pay Euro 5 000 per case for the recovery of legal costs.
Sigrid Ligné, EGBA Secretary General commented: “EU-licensed bookmakers are professionals that have a high level of expertise, know-how and risk management skills. This has been clearly recognised by the Belgian judge looking at the fact-based evidence to dismiss all the claims in this case.”
TENNIS BODY TO BAN ELECTRONICS FROM BIG GAMES?
2021-03-04
Disruptive or disreputable behaviour can get spectators ejected
Disturbed by growing reports of disruptive cell phone calls and spectators working online betting on laptops and PDAs from the bleachers (see previous InfoPowa reports) the Women's Tennis Association is planning to tighten up on spectator conduct at major matches.
The WTA is concerned about the use of cellphones and laptops at tournaments to do live commentaries and instant gambling, and are seeking new ways on how best to stamp it out.
"We don't think it's positive for the image of the sport to have people feeding information out for gambling. We will take further steps to crack down on that," said WTA chief executive Larry Scott, without specifying what these might be.
Scott added that a tournament had the right to deny access if there was any behaviour they were concerned about or which was disruptive or brought the tournament into disrepute.
"The tournament can take a decision that someone who has clearly facilitated gambling, should not be present," he said.
The tour's new integrity unit is currently in the middle of a study. "They have been to several tournaments and are interviewing a lot of people in the world of tennis, including the media," said Scott. "They are going to put a report together on how we are applying the rules, policies and procedures and will make recommendations.
"In the meantime, there are a few steps that have already been taken. Someone was stopped from using a mobile for private dealings, and a couple of spectators were kicked out in Antwerp. These are interim steps, but in terms of sig- nificant rule changes, that will only come with the details and what outside experts tell us."
In a related story, Agence France Presse has reported that discussions have taken place between leading off-line and Internet betting companies and the UEFA chief Michel Platini in an effort to improve monitoring of suspicious wagers on European football matches.
Platini said that the Union of European Football Associations is looking to find ways to speed up an early warning system that gives soccer authorities information to identify people placing bets.
An investigation into suspicious wagers made on an Intertoto Cup match played between Bulgarian side Cherno More and Macedonia's Makedonija last July is ongoing.
"UEFA is continuously monitoring football betting patterns and it is clear that we will take the necessary actions in any cases where that may be justified,'' Platini said in a statement.