4-Oct-08. Statistics contradict NBA report on betting. National Post, S3.

Sports betting web site pregame.com has revealed statistics that contradict claims made this week by an NBA investigation that said outcomes of games were not compromised by referees. A 116-page report released by the NBA on Thursday found no evidence of illegal activity by any referee other than Tim Donaghy, who currently is serving a 15-month prison sentence for a gambling scandal that tarnished the league’s reputation. According to the report, the first 15 games of the 2006-07 season refereed by Donaghy had big enough betting to move the point spread by at least 1.5 points. The teams in which the line moved in favour of beat the spread each time.

22-Jul-08. IOC moves to curb illegal gambling by working with online bookmakers. National Post, S8.

In an effort to curb match-fixing by athletes or sports officials, the International Olympic Committee announced last month it would set up a special unit at the Beijing Games to monitor abnormal betting patterns. Online betting in China threatened to destroy the nation’s soccer league in 2006 when fan protests over alleged match fixing resulted in angry post-game riots and match boycotts.

20-May-08. Ex-NBA referee deserves probation, say lawyers. Red Deer Advocate, C7.

Lawyers for disgraced professional basketball referee Tim Donaghy say that he should be sentenced to probation because he cooperated in the probe into NBA betting and because he has a pathological gambling condition. The veteran referee pleaded guilty last year to felony charges for taking cash payoffs from gamblers and betting on games he officiated.

22-Dec-07. Australian Open vows ‘vigilance’ over match-fixing, illegal gambling. National Post, S6.

Australian Open organizers have introduced anti-corruption measures including fines, bans and jail terms for any players found to be involved in match-fixing at next year’s opening Grand Slam tennis tournament. The sport has been rife with rumours of match-fixing this year.

10-Nov-07. 61 face gambling charges after raid by police. Globe and Mail, A20.

At least 40 heavily armed Toronto police officers shut down an alleged gambling ring when they raided the Thornhill Social Club and arrested sixty-on people. Officers entering the building saw several people playing Texas hold’em poker, a game OPP Detective Emilio DiPoce calls “an epidemic” in illegal gambling circles.

11-Nov-07. Dozens arrested as gambling den busted. National Post, A20.

A suspected Mafia-linked gambling den in Toronto was dismantled on Thursday with the arrest of dozens of men who police say were gathered for high-stakes poker games. Police detectives said the Thornhill Social Club, located in an industrial strip, had been running illegal gambling tables where Texas hold’em poker was played for the past year.

10-Oct-07. Poll indicates scandals’ effect on fans’ interest. Edmonton Journal, C2.

A recent poll conducted by Seton Hall University and the Sharkey Institute found that more than one in five professional sports fans has less interest in sports in the wake of transgressions including gambling, steroid use, cheting and dogfighting. The gambling scandal surrounding National Basketball Association referee Tim Donaghy left 40 per cent of sports fans believing that wagering among officials is widespread in the league, the poll found.

1-Sep-07. Did NBA front office miss betting scandal signals? Stern vows to find out. National Post, S4.

Commissioner David Stern, said the National Basketball Association’s internal probe of its officials will look into whether his office missed telling signs of an illegal betting scandal.

1-Sep-07. ATP chairman defends tour’s integrity. Edmonton Journal, D6.

The executive chairman of the ATP said that he did not believe tennis had a serious gambling problem despite a recent betting scandal. A number of players have said they have been contacted by people offering them money to lose matches but De Villiers said he did not believe it was flooding the game.

25-Aug-07. NFL suspends Vick following plea deal. National Post, S3.

In a carefully drafted plea agreement, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick admitted to being involved in a dogfighting operation known as Bad Newz Kennels at his property in Surry County, Virginia. He acknowledged financing the operation beginning in 2001 through this past spring but did not admit to sharing in gambling winnings.