‘Sport only works if fans believe the outcome is genuine, unpredictable and fair’ – Australia set to tighten laws on match-fixing and illegal betting

Australia is likely to introduce new federal criminal penalties for match-fixing and illegal betting after a key bipartisan parliamentary committee recommended ratifying a global treaty that commits countries to greater action on sports integrity.

The Joint Standing Committee on Treaties recommended the federal government approve the Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions, known as the Macolin Convention, after a recent series of hearings into global measures to combat match-fixing in sport.

“The Macolin Convention is the only international agreement that specifically aims to stop the manipulation of sports competitions,” the committee report said.

“It requests governments to work with sports organisations, betting companies, and event organisers to prevent, detect, and punish sports manipulation.

“It also sets out a shared legal framework that helps countries cooperate more effectively against a problem that increasingly crosses borders.”

The Committee said the endorsement of the Macolin Convention would bind Australia to addressing its “lack of a unified system to combat match-fixing and betting-related corruption”.

Australia’s sports integrity is governed largely by state-by-state laws, but the proposed changes would make these issues federal matters. The report said this was necessary due to the growing influence of international wagering.

“Online and offshore wagering platforms have made it more difficult to create a strong and trusted regulatory system for sports betting,” it said.

Countries that join the convention gain access and contribute to a global network of monitoring systems and guidelines.

“Working closely with other Convention members enables Australia to access international projects that address issues such as illegal sports betting, emerging sports that attract wagering but lack clear governance structures, and the use of cryptocurrency to conceal corrupt activity,” the report said.

A key aspect of the Convention would compel Australia to formally introduce federal laws that include criminal penalties for the manipulation of sports competitions involving coercion, corruption, or fraud.

That would involve amendments to the Commonwealth Criminal Code Act 1995 to create new National Sport Integrity Offences that complement existing State, Territory and other Commonwealth laws.

Australia signed the convention in 2019 but delayed accepting its terms while implementing a range of measures, including the establishment of Sports Integrity Australia in 2020.

“The establishment of Sport Integrity Australia has provided Australia with a national platform that coordinates an approach to building sport integrity,” the Committee report said.

“The Committee looks forward to the adoption of the National Sport Integrity Offences and the role they will play in pursuing prosecution against sports manipulation.“   

Responsible Wagering Australia’s chief executive Kai Cantwell spoke before the Committee earlier this month, offering the support of the lobby group of many of Australia’s largest regulated bookmakers.  

“We support this convention because, at its core, it is about protecting the integrity of sport,” Cantwell told the Committee.

“With Brisbane hosting the 2032 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, it is an important time for Australia to reaffirm its commitment to integrity in sport.”

“Sport only works if fans believe the outcome is genuine, unpredictable and fair. The moment that confidence is undermined through match fixing, corruption or manipulated betting markets, the foundation of sport begins to erode.”

In the Committee, Cantwell quoted research on illegal gambling from the independent report RWA commissioned from H2 Gambling Capital, which found that around 45 per cent of Australians cannot distinguish between a legal, licensed provider and an illegal offshore provider.

“The integrity concerns are amplified massively once the betting goes offshore, so we need to deal with the growth -the very substantial, rapid growth – of the illegal offshore market now to ensure that we protect the integrity of sport going forward,” Cantwell said.

“That’s why I can sit here today and say we’re very supportive of ratification of the Macolin Convention.”

RWA released a statement praising the decision to recommend formalising the convention, with 43 signatory countries.

“Ratification will further strengthen Australia’s world-leading integrity framework and our ability to work with global partners to protect sport and consumers,” it said.

 “At a time when illegal offshore gambling is expanding rapidly, coordinated international action has never been more important.

“We look forward to supporting the next steps and continuing to work with government, regulators and sporting bodies to keep Australia at the forefront of sports integrity. “

Having received a recommendation to recognise the convention, it is now up to the federal parliament to pass the necessary changes.