ANNOUNCER: Please make sure you have your tickets ready.
(CHEERING)
COMMENTATOR: And Queensland are gonna do it again!
(CHEERING)
PAT MCGRATH: These are the moments sports-obsessed Australians live for.
PAT MCGRATH: These are the moments (CHEERING)
COMMENTATOR: It's Sammy Silvera!
(CHEERING)
COMMENTATOR: That is extraordinary!
(WHISTLE BLOWS) COMMENTATOR: Almost take a point!
(CHEERING) Almost!
(CHEERING) He'll take that every time!
(CHEERING) (CHEERING)
But the games we love
have become deeply entwined with another national obsession.
PRESENTER: First of all let's quickly check in with Sportsbet.
You've got advertising soaked all the way through it.
COMMENTATOR: Taking their time getting back on side.
Gambling strips more than $20 billion out of the community every year.
That's more per person than any other nation.
That's more per person (CHEERING)
We're the biggest losers in the world when it comes to gambling.
That's not something we should be proud of.
COMMENTATOR: It's all over!
CATHERINE ORDWAY: It's rife and it's become so normalised
that the rest of the world is wondering
that the rest of the world what on earth Australia is doing.
(CHEERING)
The gambling giants have infiltrated the lowest levels of sport.
It IS a little obscure that it would happen at this level I must admit.
South Springvale, Melbourne Srbija. It's quite extreme, isn't it?
South Springvale, Melbourne Srbija. (LAUGHS) It's way too much.
Do the clubs know that you're here? Uh... No.
COMMENTATOR: The stats there...
We expose the secretive deals in the big leagues.
We expose the secretive deals What do you make of this agreement?
It would have to convert What do you make of this agreement?
It would have to convert to an incredible source of revenue
It would have to convert for the code.
(CHEERING)
On this episode of Four Corners
we reveal On this episode of Four Corners
we reveal how the global gambling industry
is tightening its grip on Australian sport.
You can see its influence at almost every level of competition.
And there are signs clubs, players and fans have had enough
and change is coming.
SPECTATOR: Hey, Pete! Take a photo of me!
SPECTATOR: Hey, Pete! (INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(SPIT SIZZLES)
SPECTATOR: Keep going, Andy! Keep going, Andy!
SPECTATOR: Keep going, Andy! (SPIT SIZZLES)
(CHEERING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
SPECTATOR: Come on, boys!
JIM SIMOS: South Springvale has been around since '68,
formed by Greek immigrants predominantly.
A lot of the people that started the club
A lot of the people are still part of the club now,
so, it's got that whole-family vibe. are still part of the club now,
so, it's got that whole-family vibe.
It's game day,
and South Springvale Football Club president, Jim Simos, is anxious.
and South Springvale Football Club (WHISTLE BLOWS)
Come on!
Here! Here! Here!
Get up! Get up!
How's everyone feeling about today? JIM SIMOS: Nervous. Nervous.
Always the case when there's a big game on.
So, it'd be a good atmosphere, a good game. Tough game.
So, it'd be a good atmosphere, Go! Go, Steven! Go!
South Springvale's top team plays in State League 1 South-East -
a fifth-grade competition in Melbourne's suburbs.
(CHEERING)
JIM SIMOS: It is purely an amateur competition -
we've got plumbers, we've got electricians,
we've got plumbers, we've even got a doctor.
There's 17-, 18-year-olds out there 'cause they're part of the club,
and that's the sort of environment we want to keep.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
At the edge of the field
one spectator watches every move.
You might have been at a local game, seen someone like this
You might have been at a local game, and wondered what they're up to.
He's what's known as a data scout
and works for Swiss multinational company Sportradar,
which specialises in collecting live data at sporting events.
CALLER: So, yet no outcome?
These live updates are sent to bookmakers
so punters can bet on the game in real time.
This is what you'll see if you log on to one of those betting sites.
We found several bookmakers offering bets on this game
to millions of potential gamblers in Australia and around the world.
Who would want to bet on this level of soccer?
JIM SIMOS: I don't know, I don't understand it,
being such a small, part-time football, really -
and that's all it is, just volunteers and kids
and that's all it is, coming out and having fun.
Win it! Win it!
I think betting on amateur football altogether,
I think betting on amateur football it's just probably not on.
These are the odds.
One of the biggest bookmakers, Bet365,
is offering all kinds of bets on this match.
is offering all kinds of bets Hold the line!
You can bet on everything.
You can bet on who's going to be leading at half time, full time,
half time in a draw.
I mean, just the detail they go down to here,
I mean, just the detail it's quite extreme, isn't it?
It's way too much.
No, mate, as long as we're leading It's way too much.
No, mate, as long as we're leading after 90 minutes,
No, mate, as long as we're leading that's all I care about.
That's what all the folks here would care about.
That's what all the folks here (INDISTINCT YELLING)
Parents who are here to support their children
can't understand how betting is allowed on these games.
can't understand how betting Did you have any awareness
that there's betting at this level of soccer?
that there's betting No, not until you told me about it.
What do you think about that?
I think it's so wrong. I think it's really, really wrong.
I think it's so wrong. I don't agree with it at all.
Why?
Because the focus Why?
Because the focus should be on fun, enjoyment,
Because the focus watching the game, family,
and I think it just would ruin it.
Somehow they need to stamp it out.
Out! Get it!
Later I caught up with the data scout.
Does Sportradar have to ask permission from the clubs to be here?
DATA COLLECTOR: Permission?
Mm. I'm not sure. Yeah.
Do the clubs know that you're here usually collecting the data?
Uh... No.
He doesn't want to be named,
but we know he's one of about 5,000 data scouts working for Sportradar.
Do you know much about Sportradar,
like who they are and what they do as a business?
like who they are DATA COLLECTOR: Uh...
I think Sportradar
is a data company I think Sportradar
is a data company and analyse the sports game.
A lot of people think of Sportradar as sort of a betting-data company.
A lot of people think of Sportradar Uh... (CHUCKLES)
Actually, I don't know about that.
Don't know? Actually, I don't know about that.
Don't know? Yeah.
We were having a look, but the live data
from the reserves game and this game
was ending up on international gambling sites like Bet365
and lots of other gambling sites like that.
Uh... Actually, I'm not sure about that.
Probably, but I'm not sure.
I just collect the data and go to my...
..I send the data to my supervisor.
Out! Get it out!
Even he believes betting shouldn't be allowed on amateur soccer.
Even he believes betting shouldn't If it is ending up on betting sites
like Bet365 If it is ending up on betting sites
like Bet365 and these other betting sites,
what do you think about that?
Do you think they should be betting on games at this level?
Do you think they should be betting Uh... (SIGHS)
No. It's too low-level.
(INDISTINCT YELLING)
Sportradar declined our interview request.
In a statement it said it's one of several companies
collecting data at Australian sporting events.
It confirmed the information IS distributed
It confirmed to licensed bookmakers worldwide.
PRASAD KANITKAR: There's, you know, data scouts
working at these games and punching in what's happening, PRASAD KANITKAR: There's, you know, data scouts
working at these games and punching in what's happening,
working at these games and, you know, we have the tools
and, you know, the formulas, the algorithms
and, you know, to work out the prices.
Former gambling-industry insider Prasad Kanitkar
Former gambling-industry insider knows how valuable sports data is.
How dependent are the bookmakers on those data scouts?
Oh, very, very heavily dependent.
A lot of sports simply wouldn't have gambling on them
if it wasn't for the data scouts.
Often we don't have live-streaming or live pictures
of what's happening,
so, they're our one and only source often for sporting events.
Welcome to the world's favourite online betting company.
This season...
He was a trader with gambling giant Bet365
He was a trader and watched the deluge of live data,
which he used to set odds and lure punters.
Who are your customers, is it just Australians
or is it a global customer base?
No, it's very much a global customer base.
A lot of Chinese customers that are betting on Bet365.
It was get as many customers as we possibly could.
Why would anyone want to bet on this level of competition?
Yeah, I just don't think it matters to them, to be honest.
If you can bet on something, people do.
I think to them it is a bit like a casino
where they might be just looking at what's on,
where they might be just looking what they can put a bet on,
clicking away on the website what they can put a bet on,
clicking away on the website and hoping for the best.
I can bet on over 780,000 different games just like...
I can bet on over 780,000 (SNAPS FINGERS) ..that.
On these suburban games,
I mean, what kind of volume are we talking about in terms of betting?
Yeah, you'd see, like, sort of tens of thousands of dollars
per minute...
Per minute? per minute...
Per minute? Per minute. Yeah.
On a suburban soccer game? Yeah. Absolutely.
On a suburban soccer game? Bet365...
So, how much do you think in total
would be bet on, say, So, how much do you think in total
would be bet on, say, a suburban soccer game in Australia?
would be bet on, say, Oh, it'd be millions.
Millions of dollars? Yeah. Yeah.
Millions of dollars? And that's just one betting company?
Yep, that's right.
Do you think anyone has any idea about this?
That there's this volume of betting on this level of sport?
No, if you're not in the industry, you wouldn't have a clue.
Just the pure volume that you see, like, it's quite shocking.
It's extremely profitable and it's just ever expanding.
There's always more sports coming, available,
There's always more sports more and more leagues available.
It's a machine more and more leagues available.
It's a machine that doesn't really stop.
It's a machine We are members of Bet365.
Bet365 says only a small number of bets
are placed on community soccer in Australia
and the overall amounts gambled on these games are relatively low.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
It's not just suburban soccer.
Other community sports It's not just suburban soccer.
Other community sports are being targeted too,
global gambling companies following their every move.
SIMON FITZGERALD: The opportunity to gamble on anything
is very paramount in our society now, SIMON FITZGERALD: The opportunity to gamble on anything
is very paramount in our society now,
so, how do you avoid that?
How do you hide that? It's almost impossible.
Couple! Couple! Push!
Couple!
(INDISTINCT CHATTER) Couple!
(INDISTINCT CHATTER) Oh! Oh!
It's a Tuesday on Melbourne's outskirts,
and this camera is live-streaming a club cricket match.
(CHEERING)
Hey! (APPLAUSE)
SIMON FITZGERALD: We have some talented individuals,
the teams aren't particularly consistent.
To suggest it's at the premier level, it's a little off that.
Data from the game is showing up on multiple offshore gambling sites.
This surprises Maribyrnong Park's president.
I think people are probably a little bemused about why,
you know, a fourth-division club in the north-west corridor of Melbourne
you know, a fourth-division club in is all of a sudden appearing
and having odds available globally is all of a sudden appearing
and having odds available globally to be bet on.
It's very hard to understand how they could possibly judge odds
because they wouldn't be particularly au fait
because they wouldn't be with what's going on.
There's no need for data scouts here.
The live-streaming device endorsed by Cricket Australia
The live-streaming device captures every moment.
Oh, great shot.
Go, Jessie! Crackin' shot!
Do you think that there could be people gambling on this match
Do you think that there could be watching that live feed right now?
(LAUGHS) I wouldn't have thought so until this afternoon.
(LAUGHS) I wouldn't have thought so (LAUGHS)
Until you... Until you rang me.
I guess nothing's impossible.
Now, I guess, people with an ulterior motive
have access to more information in a live sense
to see what's going on
and, I guess, that's live betting in any sport at any level.
It is a little obscure that it would happen at this level, though,
It is a little obscure that it I must admit.
What the club doesn't know
is the streaming service that's broadcasting this match
is the streaming service is owned by data giant Sportradar.
Some of the players that are involved in this streaming,
Some of the players you've got Sportradar in there.
Why do you think they want to get into that industry,
into the streaming side of things?
Well, it's commercially lucrative
and sports-data companies Well, it's commercially lucrative
and sports-data companies
are in demand from bookmakers
to provide that data.
Globally there's a thirst for it.
People want data to inform their betting.
(CHEERING, APPLAUSE)
Sportradar told Four Corners
it doesn't supply these live feeds to bookmakers.
But authorities tell us it doesn't supply these live feeds to bookmakers.
But authorities tell us
by offshore gambling companies.
they can still be used by offshore gambling companies.
Cricket Australia says by offshore gambling companies.
Cricket Australia says
it's up to clubs to make sure those companies can't access their footage.
Well, there's a lot of resources....
Jason Whybrow leads the match-fixing unit at Sport Integrity Australia.
We can't control the entire world or the internet,
We can't control but we can work harder.
This new government agency was set up
to protect Australian sport
from threats linked to doping, match fixing and gambling.
We certainly can protect the participants and protect our sports.
Just generally about the sports-data companies,
how much do you think they've contributed
to this massive increase in the availability of sport to bet on?
to this massive increase in The environment's grown hugely
in the last decade.
Part of that in the last decade.
Part of that is because, when people bet,
they are interested in watching the outcome of their bet.
they are interested in watching So, they are feeding a need,
they're using the rapid advances of technology to do that.
(INDISTINCT YELLING)
Betting technology may be rapidly advancing,
but the standard of competition here is truly amateur.
UMPIRE: The game's over, fellas, 'cause they can't supply a new ball.
UMPIRE: The game's over, fellas, After notching up a big score,
Maribyrnong Park has to forfeit
because they didn't bring a new ball for the second innings.
SIMON FITZGERALD: Well, the game's come to a very abrupt end.
We batted our 20 overs
and made a very decent score. We batted our 20 overs
and made a very decent score.
And, lo and behold, our...
..we've turned up without a new ball,
which is part of an expected regulation on the association.
How did someone forget a ball?
Yeah, that's a very good question
I'm yet to get to the bottom of, Pat.
Rest assured that that'll be a question asked very shortly.
Rest assured that that'll be Very shortly.
For Sportradar, live-streaming is just the beginning.
Executives told a group of investors in March
it's using AI technology to supercharge profits.
Sportradar was valued at almost US$8 billion
when it listed on the Nasdaq two years ago.
It has a gambling-market monitoring arm
that detects suspicious betting and uncovers match fixing.
But its core business is selling data for gambling.
We created live betting. So, we created this product. But its core business is selling data for gambling.
We created live betting. So, we created this product.
We are the best in the world for this
and we are the biggest in the world for this.
and we are the biggest in the world It's backed by billionaire investors,
has deals with some of the biggest US sporting codes,
and basketball icon Michael Jordan has a stake in the company.
and basketball icon Michael Jordan You did great! Yay!
It's clear the company sees a future
where every second of play It's clear the company sees a future
where every second of play is an opportunity to bet.
CATHERINE ORDWAY: This was taking things to a new level.
Sport-integrity specialist Catherine Ordway
is surprised by these expansion plans
at a time when public attitudes towards sports gambling
at a time when public attitudes appear to be shifting.
CATHERINE ORDWAY: I definitely don't need micro betting,
CATHERINE ORDWAY: I definitely and I don't know who does.
People who enjoy betting on sport and I don't know who does.
People who enjoy betting on sport
would say this is a fun new product, perhaps.
And if we have the protections around...
..the education and awareness programs
so people KNOW that this is the environment
and this is what people are making money off of
and this is what for those players,
then maybe there's a win-win.
But I just would've thought expanding gambling at all
But I just would've thought is completely the wrong direction.
Sportradar says it's trusted by more than 200 sporting organisations.
It says collecting their data helps detect suspicious betting patterns.
Sportradar's commercial dealings with another sporting body
exposed the dangers of allowing gambling to flourish.
NEWSREADER: Championship matches have been investigated
NEWSREADER: Championship matches over suspicions of match fixing.
NEWSREADER: A core group of players, half of whom
are actually about to begin playing at the Australian Open...
PRESS CONFERENCE: All of us in tennis are absolutely committed
to stamp out any form of corrupt conduct in our sport.
(GRUNTS)
My bad.
Did one go through?
I've been playing professional tennis for probably 10 years now.
I've been playing professional My highest ranking
is probably the ranking My highest ranking
is probably the ranking I'm at as of this point today,
which is about 218 in the world, I think, is probably the ranking I'm at as of this point today,
which is about 218 in the world, I think,
give or take.
Not that I'm that obsessed with the number.
Australian Brandon Walkin
is taking a break in Tel Aviv between tournaments.
He's seen first-hand
how low-paid professionals can be tempted to break the rules.
Unless you're at the pinnacle of the sport,
like, the top 100 in the world,
you're not making money where it's like life-changing money.
I think I just need to get better, maybe I'll make more money.
But I think overall the sport does not pay
anywhere near as well as it should,
and, yeah, it makes it difficult for a lot of people.
His reputation took a hit
when he was caught up His reputation took a hit
when he was caught up in a match-fixing scandal
when he was caught up early in his career.
I was 18. Like, I was naive and I didn't know the rules.
In 2013 Brandon Walkin was asked to pass on a message
to help fix a match at a minor tournament in Queensland.
to help fix a match By the rules,
I'm meant to go straight to Tennis Integrity Unit
instead of what I did do, which was pass the message along.
In the text message I said, "I don't want anything to do with this,"
In the text message I said, "I don't like, "It's your career.
"If this is the route you want to go down, so be it."
The governing body handed him a six-month ban.
It was suspended, which meant he could continue to play.
I felt like that's hung over my head.
I still feel like I won't get a wild card,
I won't get an opportunity because of my involvement.
It's on me to be more responsible and know the rules, of course.
But, like, there's always going to be people
who are looking to take advantage of people who don't know better
or people who are young or people who aren't familiar with the rules
or people who they feel they have influence over.
When another match-fixing scandal implicating multiple players
erupted on the eve of the 2016 Australian Open,
erupted on the eve the governing bodies of tennis
launched an independent investigation.
ADAM LEWIS: What we found was that
tennis did indeed face a serious integrity problem. ADAM LEWIS: What we found was that
tennis did indeed face a serious integrity problem.
The game itself lends itself to manipulation for betting purposes.
Detection is difficult
not least because Detection is difficult
not least because in many professional matches
there are no spectators and inadequate facilities.
British barrister Adam Lewis led the review
and found match fixing was more likely among lower-ranked players.
You have very many young professional players
or old professional players on the way out
who cannot earn a living at that lowest level.
The temptation is, "I want to make a little bit more money."
The temptation is, "I want to make And then you begin to fix matches.
The panel also proposes...
So, it was that easiness
of the way in which people could So, it was that easiness
of the way in which people could slip into low-level match fixing
and how that could then develop into something worse
and how that could then that we found most shocking.
Adam Lewis and his team
looked at more than a thousand suspect matches,
looked at more than a thousand 85% of them
at tournaments with a fraction of the prize money of the grand slams.
BRANDON WALKIN: A lot of the time the courts aren't flat
or the courts are quite dangerous BRANDON WALKIN: A lot of the time the courts aren't flat
or the courts are quite dangerous
or the linesmen
don't really care to be there,
you know, the tennis balls you get are balls that I give my dog.
Adam Lewis linked the growing threat of match-fixing
to a lucrative deal
the tennis federation signed with data company Sportradar.
Under the agreement
live match data, even from Under the agreement
live match data, even from the lowest-level tournaments,
live match data, even from is fed directly from tennis umpires.
As they record the score of the match,
As they record that data is then sold live,
being sent automatically by computer straight to a betting company.
The problem was with the fact that the data sale at that level
was creating betting markets that would not otherwise have existed.
Gamblers could now bet
on tens of thousands of low-level tennis matches.
BRANDON WALKIN: I didn't think that anyone would have any interest
in any level of tennis outside of Grand Slams.
And then when I realised, "Oh, there's odds on matches"...
You know, I'm playing a match in Ipswich, and there's odds on this.
I was like, "How could betting people even figure that out?
Adam Lewis said the solution was simple -
Adam Lewis said stop Sportradar and its rivals
collecting live data on low-level tennis and selling it to bookmakers.
Not only are the players at the very lowest level
really underpaid and subject to temptation
but also the officials at these lower levels
are also subject to temptation in the same way.
The tennis federation promised
to phase out live data collection at the lowest-level tournaments,
to phase out live data collection but that still hasn't happened.
Out!
That's obviously Out!
That's obviously rather disappointing.
That's obviously I think one can also say
in relation to any other sport
selling data at that lowest level,
they'll create selling data at that lowest level,
they'll create their own perfect storm,
the risk is that will lead to further match fixing
in the same way as seems to occur at the lowest levels in tennis.
The federation admits there's still work to do
and says it's committed to upholding the integrity of the sport.
Since Adam Lewis released his findings five years ago
Since Adam Lewis 21 players and seven umpires
have been banned or suspended 21 players and seven umpires
have been banned or suspended for match-fixing offences.
Tennis said it was going to try to fix this problem,
Tennis said it was going but it hasn't actually done that.
I mean, why do you think it hasn't?
Well, it would appear to be money.
You follow the money and then you look at what they say Well, it would appear to be money.
You follow the money and then you look at what they say
You follow the money and then you look at what they do.
And the sports themselves
are captured by the gambling money, And the sports themselves
are captured by the gambling money, unfortunately.
are captured by the gambling money, (CHEERING)
From local games to the major leagues,
gambling is more influential than ever in Australian sport.
It's changing how many of us watch these games.
The big sporting codes know the risks
but can't resist taking their cut.
How intertwined is sport and gambling now?
HUNTER FUJAK: Incredibly intertwined.
It's sponsorship of teams, sponsorship of stadiums, HUNTER FUJAK: Incredibly intertwined.
It's sponsorship of teams, sponsorship of stadiums,
integration into broadcasts.
Let's quickly check in with Sportsbet.
CATHERINE ORDWAY: It's become so ingrained
and sport organisations have become so reliant on the money
they're entirely beholden to gambling companies.
All Australia's major sporting bodies
have signed deals with online bookmakers.
have signed deals The details aren't made public
and the sports don't say how much they're worth.
We've obtained copies of the deals
signed by the AFL, the NRL and Football Australia,
and they reveal the percentage the sports earn
and they reveal the percentage on every bet made on their events.
And, for some sports, on every bet made on their events.
And, for some sports, the riskier the bet
And, for some sports, the bigger the cut.
These documents haven't been made public before.
They show how tied the codes are
to the fortunes of the gambling industry.
The NRL earnt $50 million last year from this agreement.
It takes a 1.2% commission from every bet in Australia on its games,
more for riskier bets
and gambling on big games like the State of Origin and finals.
and gambling on big games On some bets
the NRL can take 17.5% of a bookmaker's profit.
What do you make of this agreement?
HUNTER FUJAK: Given the popularity of the National Rugby League,
it would have to convert to an incredible source of revenue
it would have to convert for the code.
The AFL pocketed between $30 million and $40 million,
but won't tell us exactly what its deal with the bookmakers is worth.
but won't tell us exactly what its These hugely lucrative agreements
give the codes control over the These hugely lucrative agreements
give the codes control over the betting on their games in Australia
and are meant to fund their integrity units.
Sports management researcher Hunter Fujak
says the nation's two biggest sporting codes
don't want the public to know
how reliant they've become on these deals.
how reliant There's certainly a PR element
to try to manage the publicity
around their integration to try to manage the publicity
around their integration with gambling.
And, so, when we look at the annual reports of our major codes,
they really do a good job trying to blur the boundaries
they really do a good job to hide, I guess, the exact elements
of how involved they are to hide, I guess, the exact elements
of how involved they are or how integrated gambling is.
of how involved they are The more punters bet on games
the more money the NRL makes, right?
If we talk about overall betting, absolutely.
So, they've got an even greater interest in promoting gambling,
to have gambling advertising in the sport?
to have gambling Yes, the sport gambling advertising
is very much for attracting new gamblers.
Our sport leagues stand to benefit
the more there are new gamblers encouraged to gamble
the more there are new gamblers and existing punters gambling more.
(CHEERING)
The NRL says its agreement limits the (CHEERING)
The NRL says its agreement limits the types of bets available to punters
and is designed to safeguard the integrity of the sport.
CATHERINE ORDWAY: People can't watch a match without having a bet on.
It's rife and it's become so normalised
that the rest of the world is wondering
that the rest of the world what on earth Australia is doing.
You've got advertising soaked all the way through it.
PRESENTER: Let's get a market update from Sportsbet.
(CHEERING)
It's no wonder that they are sponsoring sports (CHEERING)
It's no wonder that they are sponsoring sports
because it gives you primetime access
because it gives you into loungerooms across the country.
Just the sheer number of betting ads that young people are seeing.
They turn on the TVs, they're seeing gambling.
They scroll their Twitter or Facebook feed,
they're seeing gambling.
ANNOUNCER: Please make sure you have your tickets ready.
The NRL and AFL only allow betting on their top teams.
But we've discovered soccer's governing body
allows gambling on everything
from the A-League down to amateur matches...
from the A-League (WHISTLE BLOWS)
(CHEERING)
..and its secret agreement
shows it gets a cut from every bet made in Australia on those games.
Football Australia wouldn't do an interview
or tell us what the deal is worth.
Do you think Football Australia
should be getting a cut of bets on amateur games,
including games where underage players are on the pitch?
Certainly if they're going to derive income
from such low levels of the sport,
then certainly one would expect
that, from an integrity perspective, that money is reinvested
to make sure that there's really good measures in place
and resourcing in place
to ensure that those matches
aren't having corruption or match-integrity issues.
You have to decide in this moment as a striker. OK?
On training night in South Springvale,
we tell Jim Simos what we've discovered
about Football Australia's relationships
with gambling companies.
Has Football Australia even told you
that they allow betting at this level of soccer?
that they allow betting JIM SIMOS: No. No.
The first thing I'd heard of it JIM SIMOS: No. No.
The first thing I'd heard of it was on Round One this year,
that they were gambling on our games.
that they were gambling I assumed obviously the top leagues.
I was totally unaware that it was down
to our levels and below. I was totally unaware that it was down
to our levels and below.
So, Football Australia hasn't come to us as a collective and said,
"Hey, be careful of this, be careful of that."
Just hasn't occurred at all.
What would you say if I told you
that Football Australia actually gets a cut of all bets on your games?
It'd be disappointing that they're doing that.
Football Australia want these relationships,
that's fine, it is what it is.
Leave it to the professional leagues,
where they've got the set-up, they can monitor it,
they need to do what they need to do.
From our perspective, I don't think it's a...there's no place for it.
They're treating you like a commodity.
They're treating you Absolutely.
And we have no part of that.
We have no choice And we have no part of that.
We have no choice of backing out of that.
We have no choice Which would be great just to...
I'd love to just tick us off, "Don't bet on our games,"
I'd love to just tick us off, put a line through our games.
I don't need that pressure.
But can it get worse? Absolutely. There's a scope for it to get worse,
and we don't want to deal with that.
and we don't want Gents, how are we?
We all good?
Jim Simos has no idea who's betting on his club...
So, we'll do that first. So, off we go.
..or how to deal with the sudden global interest in their games.
JIM SIMOS: There's been no training on it. There's been nothing at all.
JIM SIMOS: There's been no training So, it's left to the club.
Being amateur clubs, this is our side gig,
this is what we do for fun, this is what we do to pass time.
To have everything thrown at us to look after this
To have everything thrown at us is just...it's not good enough.
Football Australia says it allows and monitors betting
as a deliberate strategy to protect the game from integrity threats.
It insists that clubs ARE kept informed about the risks.
It insists that clubs What do you see as the risks of this?
Gambling addiction is obviously the big one.
We've got 250-odd kids at South Springvale
that could be open to this sort of stuff,
which is the last thing you want from a club perspective.
A lot of these kids could get involved in that sort of stuff
that don't understand what the consequences could be.
It would absolutely devastate me
if one of our kids got caught up in this.
They are more vulnerable for a number of reasons.
At community level, it's usually
you're just playing for fun.
So, if somebody came along
and offered someone $10,000
and offered to fix a match in some way,
whether it was for a goalkeeper
to let in a number of goals at a particular time
or for somebody, a referee, to get a red card or whatever it was,
then that's obviously going to be a much bigger incentive
than for trying to influence someone with $10,000
than for trying to influence someone in the top leagues around the world.
It's kind of like a powder keg, in the top leagues around the world.
It's kind of like a powder keg, right?
It's kind of like a powder keg, Yes, it is
because all of those forces coming together
because all of those forces just make the risks enormous,
and when you don't educate and raise just make the risks enormous,
and when you don't educate and raise the awareness at those lower levels,
people think, "It's not going to happen to us,"
and they don't think about what could be happening
and they don't think about in their own backyard.
Have a look at that fourth quarter.
The only dedicated police unit set up to tackle this problem
The only dedicated police unit is based in Victoria.
It's not obvious to me that is based in Victoria.
It's not obvious to me that they're trying to throw the match.
It's not obvious to me that CHRIS GILBERT: Match fixing itself
can be done by targeting vulnerable athletes
who don't get as well-paid as others.
So, there's an opportunity there
for those that want to try and corrupt matches to target them.
There's lots of interest, lots of betting markets.
Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Chris Gilbert
sees a growing threat from offshore gambling markets
sees a growing threat that are beyond the unit's reach.
It is more around what is occurring offshore that are beyond the unit's reach.
It is more around what is occurring offshore
that is probably outside of our remit
that poses more of a challenge.
So, regulated markets domestically,
regulated markets offshore
are really quite strong in our view.
It's an unregulated are really quite strong in our view.
It's an unregulated market environment
It's an unregulated that poses the greatest threat.
Even regulated Australian bookmakers have been caught up in match fixing.
Police, mate. Come to the front door, please.
In 2020
former professional table tennis player Adam Green
was charged over betting on fixed Eastern European matches
via 10 bookmakers, including Sportsbet, Neds and PointsBet.
He pleaded guilty in May.
Court documents show
he was placing the bets on behalf of a contact in Ukraine
he was placing the bets and took 20% of the profits.
Table tennis has been booming on global betting markets
ever since the COVID lockdowns interrupted more popular sports.
Even Australia's biggest bookmakers offer gambling on obscure tournaments
played in gymnasiums in Eastern Europe.
The tournaments were set up to fill a gap, essentially.
So, there was no sport taking place at that time globally, The tournaments were set up to fill a gap, essentially.
So, there was no sport taking place at that time globally,
it was easier to set up a sports hall
and a mobile phone to stream a table tennis match at that time.
and a mobile phone to stream And there was a demand
for people who were actually And there was a demand
for people who were actually sat at home wanting to gamble
but had nothing to gamble on legitimately.
Kevin Carpenter heads the integrity unit
at the International Table Tennis Federation,
at the International which is grappling
with the sudden global gambling interest in its sport.
Some of the markets where the betting takes place,
they're not regulated markets,
and that's beyond our control. they're not regulated markets,
and that's beyond our control.
We're still building a complete picture
of the players that have been playing these tournaments. We're still building a complete picture
of the players that have been playing these tournaments.
Obviously, the records have not always been well kept,
the scores have not always been available.
the scores have not always There's always a risk
when they're playing in this sort of
amateur or semi-professional when they're playing in this sort of
amateur or semi-professional tournaments.
We know from other sports,
we know from other racket sports, from other one-on-one sports.
we know from other racket sports, We're not naive in that respect.
Adam Green made more than $50,000
betting on 39 fixed table tennis matches
during the height of the pandemic in 2020.
Text messages show he was fed details of rigged games
Text messages show by his Ukrainian contact.
He's admitted to trying to conceal payments he sent back to his contact.
Green used 11 betting accounts set up in the names of friends and family,
Green used 11 betting accounts set up and avoided detection
until one of the bookmakers picked up on the suspicious betting.
G'day. Adam Green?
I'm Pat McGrath from Four Corners at the ABC.
I'm Pat McGrath Yep?
Have you got a sec to talk about
the charges involving the table tennis with us for a minute?
the charges involving the table No. No. Sorry.
Just wanted to work out just some basics about it
if you've got some time.
Adam Green's due to be sentenced in September.
Many of Australia's big bookmakers
are still offering betting on Many of Australia's big bookmakers
are still offering betting on the tournaments involved in his case.
We've worked closely with New South Wales Police
to assist them with this particular prosecution against Mr Green
to assist them with this particular and his accomplices along the way.
It's an example of what can happen.
There's a very limited amount we can do as a sport
to prevent betting companies either regulated or unregulated
from offering markets on table tennis around the world.
We hope to introduce a licensing system
whereby you will have to get prior authorisation from ITTF
whereby you will have to get to be able to hold
even a national-level event that offers any betting
so we then have that visibility.
It's very difficult to control that entire world...
The risks may have grown,
yet the federal-government body
tasked with protecting yet the federal-government body
tasked with protecting sports integrity
hasn't been given the power or resources
to monitor any gambling markets in Australia or abroad.
to monitor any gambling markets Sport Integrity Australia
wants a dedicated unit to monitor betting markets,
but the federal government is sitting on the proposal.
Does Sport Integrity Australia have all the tools and all the power
Does Sport Integrity Australia it needs to do this job?
JASON WHYBROW: At the moment it needs to do this job?
JASON WHYBROW: At the moment we certainly are playing the role
of coordinating and providing added value to those other agencies.
Would it be good to have some more powers, though,
to kind of actively monitor these markets?
Oh, that's a question that we will work through to kind of actively monitor these markets?
Oh, that's a question that we will work through
as we develop our responses
with all of those other partners.
So, we at the moment are very much in the space
of trying to assist the other agencies
who have those responsibilities at the moment.
who have those responsibilities (CHEERING)
Federal sport minister, Anika Wells,
says the government Federal sport minister, Anika Wells,
says the government is still considering the proposal
says the government to monitor betting markets.
(CHEERING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
There is a real need to have a bigger vision for our city.
We're the fastest-growing capital city...
Momentum is building to rein in the influence of gambling
on Australian sport.
Senator David Pocock and other Independents are leading the push
for government to crack down on gambling advertising and sponsorship.
I know what it was like to be a young kid
who just idolised rugby players
and was watching their every move who just idolised rugby players
and was watching their every move
and, yeah, if they were associated with a brand,
and, yeah, if they were associated that would've done something to me
in terms of how I related to that brand.
So, you know, I think this is a hard conversation
when it comes down to sports sponsorship.
The former Wallabies captain knows the clubs and major codes
won't give up their gambling windfall easily.
We've just got to make sure that it's working.
My sense is that people have had enough
My sense is that and they want this dealt with,
not with some of the tinkering and they want this dealt with,
not with some of the tinkering that we see suggested
but really well-thought-out, broad reform.
These sort of changes are hard, and there's no doubt about that.
But I think it's really having these honest conversations
and doing what's best for Australians, for our communities.
(CHEERING)
COMMENTATOR: This is gonna be an absolute ripper.
It is a mouth-watering match-up.
(WHISTLE BLOWS) (CHEERING)
Western Sydney are slight favourites in our match result market.
The market has reacted and backed the Blues.
COMMENTATOR: And we are underway!
(CHEERING)
PRESENTER: If your team leads by two goals at any time,
PRESENTER: If your team you'll get paid out as a winner.
Sport is such a big part of Australian culture.
PRESENTER: Let's get a quick update from Sportsbet right now, though.
PRESENTER: Let's get a quick update (CHEERING)
We love watching sport.
It's now becoming about the odds
and, you know, the betting side It's now becoming about the odds
and, you know, the betting side of things, it's everywhere now.
and, you know, the betting side And we've left it so long
that there's a real expectation
that there will be big changes from all sides of politics.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
PETER DUTTON: The bombardment of betting ads
takes the joy out of televised sports. PETER DUTTON: The bombardment of betting ads
takes the joy out of televised sports.
Worse, they're changing the culture of our country in a bad way
and normalising gambling at a young age.
Many Australian families have had enough.
On the question of gambling advertising,
the language from both the opposition and the government has hardened.
Are you willing to gazump the Opposition Leader
Are you willing and propose a total ban?
Uh... Considering it.
Got a big agenda there,
and we'd contemplate going further. Got a big agenda there,
and we'd contemplate going further.
(LAUGHTER, CHATTER)
PUB PATRON: I feel like it's every new person that turns 18
PUB PATRON: I feel like is looking at an ad and going,
"Oh, the NRL is looking at an ad and going,
"Oh, the NRL are promoting this betting agency,
"Oh, the NRL "I better get on and have a bet."
I feel like every ad break
you're getting either a TAB or a SportsBet ad.
I know a lot of my mates like to have a punt on the NRL.
I know a lot of my mates Pretty much everyone, really.
You know, I probably put on a couple of multis every week.
SPECTATOR: A cheeky kind of $5 or $10 here or there,
but I guess that adds up if you're not controlling it
but I guess that adds up or looking after what you're doing.
I've seen other mates sort of lose control a little bit.
It's those types of betting that sort of prey on addictive behaviour.
It's those types of betting that Is there too much gambling in sport?
I certainly think it's advertised too strongly.
Especially when you've got kids growing up, going to games.
I think if you choose to bet then that's on you as an adult,
but I don't think it should be necessarily pushed through all media
but I don't think it should be I suppose, really,
whether it's online or on the TV or the radio as well.
Like, it's everywhere.
We've come to mid-week training with the Sydney Swans.
Along with all the Victorian AFL teams,
the Swans have taken a stand on gambling
the Swans have taken a stand that is at odds with the league.
TOM HARLEY: It's clearly been a shift,
certainly from when I was a fan and when I was a boy
and also from when I was a player.
I'm not sure what my odds would've been and also from when I was a player.
I'm not sure what my odds would've been
to get over 20 possessions in any game,
and I never had to think about it.
(WHISTLE BLOWS)
Tom Harley won two premierships as captain of Geelong.
Tom Harley won two premierships (INDISTINCT YELLING)
TOM HARLEY: (INDISTINCT YELLING)
TOM HARLEY: I'm not a punter, I never have been.
Now the rhetoric seems to sort of lead towards the odds of the games,
and that starts to become the language.
And, so, that's something that's absolutely shifted.
It's certainly a part of the industry
and certainly part of our game.
But, from a Swans point of view,
it's not part of the way we sort of promote our club.
When you come and watch our home games... it's not part of the way we sort of promote our club.
When you come and watch our home games...
You won't see any sports-betting promotions.
As chief executive of the Swans,
he's one of the leading faces in a campaign
to banish gambling advertising from his club and home ground.
TOM HARLEY: We're a commercial business, we've got assets,
and one of our key assets is a clean stadium.
What kind of response have you had from fans and members
about this decision? Yeah, really, really positive.
Really supportive of the fact
that when they come to the SCG
there is no gambling advertising.
We have taken proactive measures
to remove gambling from our stadium, from our platforms,
because we think it's a social-leadership position.
But the gambling companies would pay more, right?
They'd love to have their logo across a Swans jumper, wouldn't they?
(LAUGHS) Who knows? Who knows?
It's not a conversation I...
I genuinely mean this -
it's not a conversation I've ever had.
The things that we can control are the people who we partner with.
And in saying that, we're respectful of other organisations and entities
And in saying that, we're respectful that go down a different path.
We're realistic about that.
So, you know, as a club,
I'd like to think we've had a history of being able to stand up...
..stand on our own two feet, stand up for what we believe in.
AD VOICEOVER: Get that same-game multi feeling!
For the sporting codes that rely so heavily on gambling,
breaking the nation's betting habit will come at a cost.
CATHERINE ORDWAY: We've reached a point now
where we can't really turn back the clock
and it's really difficult to undo those bonds.
and it's really difficult How urgent is this to get this right?
Well, it's really urgent
if you think about Australia and the importance of sport to Australians.
We want to be a leading nation in the sport-integrity space
We want to be a leading nation as well as on the field.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
DAVID POCOCK: Australians lose $25 billion a year gambling.
That's the most per capita in the world.
We're the biggest losers in the world when it comes to gambling.
That's not something we should be proud of
That's not something if you've got young kids
and you know that this is if you've got young kids
and you know that this is normalising gambling for them.
We're not setting them up for success.
HUNTER FUJAK: If we don't do anything,
HUNTER FUJAK: we continue down this path,
we probably get to a point where
five-year-olds can tell you
what 3-to-1 or $3.65 means if you bet $80.
And that might be good for their math skills,
but maybe not so good for society.