- 1 - CLEAN SPORT - SECURE BETTING www.eu-ssa.org
- 2 - Who we are? In the wake of a German soccer/referee bribe scandal (the Hoyzer affair"), betting manipulation became a topic in January 2005. With online gaming, the transparency of the Internet makes it possible to track customer behaviour in real-time. In order to prevent fraud and manipulation in the most efficient way by means of Know-Your-Customer (KYC) principles, some of the leading European online gaming operators founded the European Sports Security Association (ESSA) in 2005. The purpose of ESSA is to act as a partner of sports organisations by reporting any irregular betting patterns or insider betting to them, thus keeping sport clean. ESSA is a non-profit, self-regulatory organisation with its own Code of Conduct. ESSA s Early Warning System allows to report any irregular betting patterns to sports organisations to prevent manipulation and to contribute to sports being clean and free of corruption. The mission: to keep sports clean and free of corruption
- 3 - ESSA a partner of sport ESSA members Sports organisations Memorandum of understanding BTF Bavarian Tennis Federation RBFA - Royal Belgian Football Association DFB Deutscher Fußball-Bund BetRadar SBF Swedish Basketball Federation EPFL European Professional Football League
- 4 - What is an irregular betting pattern? A placed bet that cannot be explained rationally. A high number of new customers who opened accounts to place bets on one selected sports event. A high number of bets placed on a single sports event within a short time span. A high number of so-called special bets placed on the outcome of events within an event, for example half time score, or correct score bets. A high number of bets coming from the same region e.g. close proximity to the participants. When odds are reduced dramatically and clients still continue to place bets at any price (which implies they already know the outcome of the event).
- 5 - ESSA Early Warning System ESSA s Early Warning System (EWS) takes effect, if some or all irregular betting pattern criteria are reached. Step 1: ESSA Risk Manager on duty sends alert to all ESSA members. Step 2: After having received this 1st Stage Alert, all members are to report within 30 minutes to ESSA Risk Manager whether they detected any irregular betting patterns on their books or not. Step 3: ESSA Risk Manager collects information upon which he might set off the second stage of the alert. Step 4: If there is more than one positive response, the ESSA Risk Manager passes on all information for evaluation and decision to the concerned sports organisation. It is then up to the organisation to take action. In case of legal action, ESSA assists with ongoing investigations upon request.
- 6 - ESSA Code of Conduct All of ESSA s activities are founded on its Code of Conduct. All ESSA members are committed to responsible sports betting where customers are given a fair and reliable product by keeping sport clean and free from insider betting or bet rigging and manipulation. ESSA regards the Code of Conduct as an important statement by its members of their commitment to socially responsible sports betting. The requirements of the Code are additional to each member's national licensing requirements. Registration and ongoing player verification processes (exclusion of minors). The ability for players to be excluded. The ability for players to establish bet and deposit limits. The ability to provide players with a statement of their account activity. Security measures to combat fraud.
- 7 - ESSA Advanced Security Platform ESSA Advanced Security Platform Professional Exclusion Manipulated Match Communicat. Blacklisted Customer Exclusion Compulsory Gambler Exclusion - athletes - players - managers - trainers - other officials - unusual betting patt. - professional involvement - fixed results - syndicates - match fixers - cheaters - other fraudulent customers - self excluded Covered in releases 1.0, 1.1, 1.2 Covered in release 2.0.
- 8 - Who benefits from ESSA? How do the ESSA members benefit from their membership? Become a partner of sports Guarantee fairness to all customers Risk management tool (especially for publicly listed members) Become a less attractive target for fraud How does sport benefit from ESSA? Support in keeping sport clean and fair Additional control further to control function exerted by federations Prevention of insider betting
- 9 - ESSA our way forward Increase the number of ESSA members Sign further memorandums of understanding with sports organisations Become the number one sport security platform
- 10 - ESSA European Sports Security Association Thank you!