Professional Footballers Australia chief executive Beau Busch has called for a ban on betting on cards in Australian football, following arrests linked to alleged spot-fixing. The association has also criticised Football Australia’s integrity unit and sought expanded player training; the football body is discussing betting contracts with bookmakers.
A ban would change the markets bookmakers can offer on Australian football matches.
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PAGCOR chairman and chief executive Alejandro Tengco said the regulator must adapt its framework as the Philippine gaming industry changes. Tengco called for ongoing assessment of how the agency fulfils its regulatory responsibilities.
Madrid’s gaming chief Ramón Cubián called for stronger coordination between Spain’s autonomous communities and the state on land-based gambling oversight at the ExpoCongreso Luis Escribano. He said all 17 communities signed a joint document, presented to the DGOJ and the Council for Gambling Policy, calling for coordination on vulnerable-group protection, planning and regulation. Cubián also said Madrid would not authorise unregulated machines.
KSA chairman Michel Groothuizen called for a co-ordinated European response to illegal gambling, saying the Netherlands cannot tackle cross-border operators alone. He said half of every euro gambled by Dutch consumers goes to the illegal market, costing more than €500m a year in potential tax income.
BOS chief executive Gustaf Hoffstedt called for Sweden to rethink its gambling-market rules, including allowing competition in the lottery market and selling state-owned Svenska Spel’s commercial gambling business. He argued that the government’s approach has not made the licensed market more attractive and criticised its simultaneous restrictions on licensed operators and efforts against unlicensed companies.
Reportedly, CME Group chief executive Terry Duffy described sports event contracts as gambling. He expected sports prediction markets to reach the Supreme Court and questioned the economic purpose of markets covering Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.