Governing officials over several sports in the United Kingdom have been meeting to discuss changes in the rules to create a stricter environment when it comes to sports betting. Evidence is mounting up that betting scams are becoming more of a problem in football, cricket, horse racing and other sports and the changes could help eliminate the problem.

Forty seven cases of alleged match fixing and illegal betting have been investigated by the Gambling Commission over the past year and a half. Snooker, football and horse racing are believed to be the most corrupted though cricket and tennis are also at risk, according to The Independent.

Sporting authorities and Gerry Sutcliffe, the sports minister have been in discussion to come to an agreement on new rules that will fight the growing problem. Several different measures are being discussed one of which would be random checks on betting firm accounts. Another would be to monitor all bets place by professional athletes.

A spokesman for the sport’s governing bodies was quoted as saying: “Match fixing is as great a risk to integrity of sports as doping. That is why the sports have been campaigning for a greater regulation of sports betting for some time.”








- 2009-03-09