Sports produce concerted approach after sport gambling round-table

Australian sport broke new ground today when over 30 representatives from the sporting and gambling industries, Federal Government and the Opposition joined in Melbourne to discuss sports gambling and corruption.

The Australasian Sport Gambling Round-table Discussion, convened by the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, raised a number of pertinent issues on sport and corruption.

The meeting culminated with four key outcomes:

· Australian sports authorities need to increase their education programs for players and officials and implement them in a fashion that delivers the best results. This may include the use of players to help educate their peers. The Australian Sports Commission will help facilitate the development of these programs;

· a model policy statement will by drafted by a working party representing the major sports to provide a clear, pro-active and national approach on the issue;

· sports authorities will talk with gambling regulators to ensure that effective regulations are put in place and there is mutual understanding on the complexities of the issues;

· sports authorities will talk to government bodies to construct the most effective legislative framework to address the issue.

ACB Chief Executive Officer Malcolm Speed said: "The objective of the meeting was to reach common ground on the corruption in sport issue and we certainly achieved that. On top of reaching four key outcomes, the discussion provided rare insight on corruption and its effect on sport."