Playful wager turns serious: Tabcorp faces financial penalty
Tabcorp, a British bookmaker company, has recently discovered that a marketing tactic can go wrong. In 2017, their brand 'Sun Bets' offered a bet on if goalkeeper Wayne Shaw would consume a pie during a match. This event, later known as 'Pie-Gate', occurred.
Tabcorp now needs to pay about €100,000 to charity for different violations of the business's social responsibility guidelines, as stipulated in their licensing conditions. This investigation into their business practices was instigated by the company itself. In the 2017 FA Cup game between a fifth division club, Sutton United, and the London-based club Arsenal, Sun Bets put a peculiar bet before their customers. If Sutton's replacement keeper Wayne Shaw ate a cake during the game, bettors would get 8 times their wager back.
It's unknown if this bet was a reference to Shaw's size, which doesn't align with the physique of a well-trained professional athlete, or to his team's slim chances against London's top squad. Nevertheless, it quickly became apparent that Shaw was aware of this offer. Television cameras caught Shaw eating a cake on the side during the game. He later stated that he was joking about the bet and had neither placed a bet nor profited from it. Unfortunately, he probably didn't foresee that his actions would become an issue.
An Insignificant Act with Serious Consequences
The novelty bet resulted in surprising consequences. The British Football Association (FA) responded rather humorlessly, suspending Shaw for two months and fining him €500. He was accused of manipulating a betting market. The amateur player, known as a dedicated veteran of the club, left the team due to the media storm that ensued. Since then, an incident called 'Pie-Gate' has led to significant consequences for the betting provider Tabcorp and its brand, Sun Bets.
Novel betting markets, like those provided by Tabcorp in 2017, can appear harmless and entertaining, but their repercussions can be severe, possibly leading someone to engage in criminal activity or breach the sports rules. Richard Watson, Director of the UKGC
In reality, this type of betting was illegal. The outcome of the bet relied on Shaw's free will, not on chance. The Gambling Commission (UKGC) looked into the company's business practices related to its legal license. During the investigation, other flaws by the business emerged. For instance, more than 100 self-banned customers were able to create new accounts - not the first time this happened in British gambling.
"Customers who made the decision to self-exclude from gambling should not be allowed to continue. This is unacceptable. Gambling firms must ensure their systems can adequately protect their customers."
Besides the 'Pie-Gate' affair, other questionable betting by Sun Bets/Tabcorp surfaced. The company offered odds on streakers' presence during football games. The firm claimed an "internal risk analysis" didn't reveal that this could encourage others to engage in this behavior, which is against the law. However, it's unclear if the possibility of winning a bet prompted anyone to undertake such an exhibition.
Read also:
- The CDU is pushing for additional medical study positions in Homburg.
- German enthusiast creates gigantic Harry Potter figure
- New leader dismisses previous Schalke team.
- "White Winnie" elevates Prussia.
Source: www.onlinecasinosdeutschland.com
