Snooker Betting Scaring Off Sponsors
Suspicious betting patterns around matches are putting sponsors off investing in snooker according to the chairman of the sport’s governing body.
World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association chairman Sir Rodney Walker warned that the issue needs resolving after the Gambling Commission opened an investigation into a match involving the former world champion Peter Ebdon.
Suspicious betting patterns before Ebdon’s 5-0 defeat on 26th August to the world number 40 Liang Wenbo led the commission to open its second inquiry into the sport in seven months.
The other arose after bookmakers raised similar concerns with the commission over a match in the Malta Cup in February.
Last month Saga insurance and 888.com invoked early-cancellation clauses in their respective sponsorships of the Masters and the world championship, the sport’s two biggest tournaments.
The WPBSA said the sponsors had pulled out because of the difficult economic climate but the recent suspicious betting patterns are also believed to have impacted on the decisions.
In an effort to reassure sponsors Walker will see what lessons can be learned from the anti-corruption review completed by tennis in January.
‘If there’s information available that is interesting from another sport I’d be more than happy to have a look, particularly as we are looking for two new sponsors. In this very difficult marketplace no one would get involved if they considered the product damaged in any way.’
