Education, education, education: the Importance of Training in Combatting Illegal Betting
By Brent Fisher, ARF Council Member and General Manager, Investigations & Intelligence, Racing Victoria
The primary reason why the ARF Council researches the illegal betting industry is because it is one of the main threats to the integrity of horse racing (and other sports). Illegal betting undermines fair competition and the credibility of sporting outcomes and can cause irreparable damage to racing, the careers of those involved, and the trust of fans worldwide. Illegal betting and integrity are thus inextricably linked.
As regulators and sporting bodies strive to maintain the integrity and purity of sports, the education of those charged with overseeing these standards becomes crucial. In Victoria, Australia, there is a concerted effort to enhance the capabilities of stewards and integrity officials employed within the thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing industries through specialised training programs. The following article explores the innovative educational measures implemented in Victoria to empower these officials with the knowledge and tools necessary to combat the challenges posed by illegal betting and other integrity threats. This proactive approach not only aims to thwart immediate threats but also prepares these guardians to anticipate and respond effectively to future challenges in sports integrity.
Introduction
The global focus and increased oversight of racing has heightened the need for racing integrity units worldwide to identify, combat and respond to various integrity risks/threats.
In the battle to ensure an ongoing “level playing field”, education is one of the greatest weapons, which can assist regulators and provide insights needed to outsmart those who seek to undermine the integrity of racing. Education and increased knowledge can have the ability to transform regulators into proactive integrity guardians.
In August 2019, the Victorian government introduced the Victorian Racing Integrity Board (VRIB), an independent cross-code integrity board that oversees the delivery of integrity functions by Racing Victoria, Greyhound Racing Victoria, and Harness Racing Victoria (the three racing codes in Victoria, VRI).
The Board was established to enhance the VRI’s integrity framework and ensure racing integrity in Victoria is subject to an independent and transparent system of checks and balances.
During the 2021/2022 calendar years, the VRIB and three Victorian racing codes, as well as other key stakeholders, set about the development and the upskilling and education of integrity officials within the VRI.
Two courses - a Racing Industry Professional Staff Development Program and a Graduate Certificate in Sports Integrity were developed, and Victoria University commenced delivery of these courses from May to September 2023.
The Racing Industry Professional Staff Development Program was primarily designed for less experienced integrity officials in the Victorian racing industry, with one to five years’ experience, and consisted of modules including health and safety, conflict management, working with others and team leadership.
The Graduate Certificate in Sports Integrity was focused at more experienced personnel, with 5–20 years’ experience, and covered topics such as Data Management in Sport; Sport Integrity and Ethics; Strategic Planning and Management for Sport Business and Managing Investigations in the Sporting Industry.
Learning outcomes of this post-graduate level course included:
• increased understanding and advanced knowledge utilising cross-disciplinary recognition to analyse illegal, corrupt and anti-social behaviour on the field of sport integrity;
• exhibit the application of legal and ethical principles to decision making processes when dealing with integrity issues in sport; and
• design and justify strategic initiatives involving structural, cultural, and operational change enabling sporting enterprises to adopt practices which focus on integrity and use it as a tool for creating additional public perceived value.
Case Study Approach
The focus of both courses is that they are based on a practical case study approach. Real-life examples of matters that ended in either tribunal or court proceedings are discussed in a 360-degree manner – beginning with the intelligence (human or other sources) that prompted an investigation; the investigation techniques and protocols used; how the materials produced as a result of the investigation process are then collated into a brief of evidence in preparation for a tribunal or court hearing; the prosecutorial process determining whether the matter should proceed (e.g., is there a reasonable prospect of conviction based on the presented evidence and is the matter one worth pursuing in the interests of racing); and then a deliberation of the tribunal or court determination both in terms of liability and penalty.
The case study approach is important because it engages the students in active learning, allowing them to share their practical experiences and learn from others. It can involve participant-led presentations, exercises, role plays, debates, and guest speakers. The case study approach also enlivens the foundational, and informational or academic lectures and gives better context to the accompanying readings and assessments, incorporating additional readings or multimedia.
Conclusion
With the increased focus on the governance and accountability of racing, a well-educated integrity official is the first line of defence against any attempt to erosion of the spirit of racing. The challenge for integrity officials in the modern era to regulate and govern the sport of racing, presents itself with many obstacles.
Though technology has assisted the role of integrity officials over many years, such as increased cameras at race meetings for race-day stewards and through the development of various platforms which lead to increased efficiencies and reduction of errors (equine swabbing and wagering monitoring, for example), it also presents new challenges for integrity officials, with the ongoing development and demand for encrypted software and technology which can inhibit investigation.
Such challenges need to be met (in part) through the ongoing upskilling and education of integrity officials to ensure they have the capability and the skillset required to adequately address the present scenario, but also to ensure they can address emerging issues and threats to the racing industry.
The courses undertaken and successfully completed by integrity officials across the three codes in Victoria during 2023 lay a foundation for these officials to be more confident and informed to adequately address current issues, and emerging trends and risks, which seek to undermine the integrity of racing and developing pathway for career racing integrity officials.
In my view, as guardians of integrity, we recognise and acknowledge that education is not a destination, but an ongoing continuous journey, propelling us forward in our mission to preserve the essence of racing not only now, but also for the future.