Will the UK Ban Unusual Sports Bets?

Take one look at any sportsbook in the UK, and you’ll quickly notice that a person can bet on all kinds of crazy propositions for football (aka soccer), rugby and cricket. Whether the odds are on who gets the first yellow card (football) or the total number of wides (cricket), these bets add a little spice to the game and make things more appealing to the betting public. Sadly, that may all end in the near future.

Reps for five international sports organizations (football, cricket, tennis, rugby league, and rugby union) fear that unusual bets which don’t depend on the outcome of the game can be rigged. For this reason, the watchdog group known as The Gaming Commission has announced that it is considering tougher regulations on what kind of bets can be offered by sportsbooks.
As one might imagine, this has not been well-received by those in the world of gambling. In fact, relationships between bookmakers and organizations like the England and Wales Cricket Board and the Football Association have become more than a little strained.

Other ideas are also being considered, such as the creation of an official results service like the one which exists in horse racing. This would result in a more uniform system of payouts. At the moment, bookmakers have complete freedom in how they decide to settle bets.

While those who are concerned point to how easy it would be for a player to affect something such as a yellow card or getting ejected from a game, bookmakers argue that betting is an international industry and restrictions would simply drive bettors into the arms of Internet companies like Bodog. Bookmakers also are quick to point out that controls are already in place, and that they stand to lose more in the event of a rigged bet than anyone else.

If you’re a sports bettor (or “punter,” as they are called in the UK), this is one to keep an eye on. Check back with Dare to Gamble often for more updates on the story.

In the meantime, take a gander at some of our other fine sports betting articles:

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Will the UK Ban Unusual Sports Bets?