Weekly integrity in sport update from INTERPOL 21-27 December 2015

This week, Media reports many facts surround betting. In USA a men has been arrested because of sport gambling charges focused on NFL and college football games. While in Illinois the attorney has declared two "fantasy" sports sites illegal, an Australian cricketer and a senior handicapper in New Zealand been sanctioned for betting in violation of the integrity rules.

This week we also offer to our Singaporean colleagues the possibility to clarify an important point about one article reported in our Weekly Media Recap dated 30 November 2015 (page 3).

In the article, it was stated that “Introduced in 1955,the Singaporean detention law has been used against suspected drug traffickers, illegal money-lenders and criminal gang members, especially in cases involving insufficient evidence for prosecution.”

NCB Singapore had clarified that the underlined portion of the statement does not accurately describe the intended application of the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act. Drawing your attention to the 2nd reading of the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) (Amendment) Bill on 11 Nov 2013, the former 2nd Minister for Ministry of Home Affairs of Singapore, Mr. S. Iswaran, had explained the rationale and use of the CL (TP) Act: "I wish to emphasise and assure Members that prosecuting offenders is, and will always be, the first and preferred course of action. However, this may not be possible in every instance, as I have explained with examples, especially in cases where witnesses, who may be victims or fellow syndicate members, are unwilling to come forward and testify in open court. The Act is used as a last resort in such circumstances."

Members, if they like, may read the full report here.

CURRENT INVESTIGATION

United States

A Keys man taken into custody at Miami International Airport on gambling charges ran a betting ring focused on NFL and college football games since at least 2009, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Joseph Patrick Clements, 55, who Keys jail records say is a computer tech for the Monroe County School District, is charged with bookmaking, a third-degree felony. He was released from the Miami-Dade County jail shortly after Friday’s arrest at the airport. The case will be prosecuted in Monroe County.

Clements, who lives on Big Coppitt Key, was arrested on Dec. 12, 2014, on two misdemeanor marijuana charges following a search of his Prado Circle house nine days prior after tips came in that there might be drugs in the house. While Monroe County Sheriff's Office detectives were searching, they reportedly found gambling ledgers. That’s when the FDLE got involved and discovered what it says was a $10,000-a-week gambling operation.

According to a heavily redacted seven-page arrest affidavit, the FDLE discovered 14 gambling “reports” from a gambling website. About “20 code names were noted under the heading ‘player’ each week. Handwritten check marks were also noted beside the weekly balances showing a player’s credit or debt.”

There were also “nicknames and abbreviations with numbers encircled or in parenthesis. Plus and minus marks were also found [that] partially coincided with the nicknames found on the computer-generated ledgers.”

One of the purported bettors interviewed by state attorney’s investigator Millard Quad on Aug. 13 said he got interested in betting in 2012 and was put in touch with Clements, also known as Joe Weed. The bettor reportedly told Quad he would place bets by calling an 800 number and speaking with a live person about point spreads and odds. He said he placed bets of $50 to $100 a game over the phone.

Another purported bettor was interviewed on Oct. 13 and said he was introduced to Clements in 2009 at the Hog’s Breath Saloon in Key West. He reportedly bet 10 to 20 times a week, $500 to $2,000 weekly. He said his credit limit with the bookmaking operation was $1,000. If he lost more than that in a week, his account was shut down until it was settled.

Yet another purported bettor said he spoke about betting with Clements five years ago at a Key West bar and gave the same general information as the others about how to place wagers.

Source: Larry Kahn, "Accused of running sports gambling ring, man known as ‘Joe Weed’ arrested at Miami airport ", 23 December 2015, Miami Herald, https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/florida-keys/article51262585.html

ILLEGAL BETTING

United States

Illinois attorney general Lisa Madigan has declared daily fantasy sports sites FanDuel and DraftKings to constitute illegal gambling under state law.

The decision makes the popular games illegal to play within the state. Legislation is currently pending to except fantasy sports from Illinois’ broader gambling prohibition laws, with a bill proposed in the House of Representatives last month. The state rep who proposed the bill issued a statement Wednesday that he would continue working within the legislature to eventually allow the games to be played.

Danny Ecker of Chicagobusiness.com reports Madigan sent a letter to the New York-based FanDuel and DraftKings that they must post on their websites that Illinois-located players are not eligible to play.

A similar declaration took place in New York, where attorney general Eric Schneiderman’s injunction to shut down both sites was granted earlier this month, blocking the contests from being offered in the state. A stay was then granted allowing DraftKings and FanDuel to continue operation as they await another ruling from the attorney general.

Source: AP, "DraftKings, FanDuel declared illegal gambling in Illinois", 23 December 2015, SI by Si Wire, https://www.si.com/more-sports/2015/12/23/daily-fantasy-sports-draftkings-fanduel-illinois-illegal-gambling

Monday, 28 December 2015