Sport Integrity Takes Center Stage at TEAMS '18

SIGA LEADS THE WAY FOR SPORTS BETTING REGULATION IN THE US

Louisville, Kentucky, October 8th, 2018 - The first-ever SIGA Sports Betting Forum held last week in the United States, at TEAMS '18 Conference & Expo, promoted a high level and impactful discussion on the main challenges facing sports betting and proposed measures to safeguard the integrity of the game in the post-PASPA era.

Across a series of thought provoking and action-orientated panel sessions, leading international experts, sports integrity leaders and key stakeholders shared their views on the new emerging opportunities facing the sports betting industry in the US. Discussions focused on potential revenue generation, State versus Federal regulatory approaches, arguments for and against an integrity fee and the need to reinforce dialogue and cooperation in the sector. Participants agreed that stakeholders should unite and implement a robust regulatory framework across the country and all sports, as a matter of priority.

During the three day thought leadership event, SIGA shared its international experience and reform agenda with key stakeholders within the US sports betting industry. Whilst the speakers expressed diverse views on the topics, there was consensus that regulation in the US is positive to the industry and that there is a need for a global Sport Integrity platform, such as SIGA, to enhance information sharing globally and foster the adoption of universal integrity standards (http://siga-sport.net/siga-universal-standards/). US regulators were encouraged to reflect on the successes and failures from other jurisdictions, such as Europe and Asia.

Open to all key stakeholders, including leagues, players' unions, rights holders, betting operators, regulatory authorities, law enforcement and destination representatives, the SIGA Sports Betting Forum was sponsored by Sportradar, Don Best Sports and Inside World Football.

Concluding the Forum, Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, CEO of SIGA, stated: "The discussion about the future of sports betting USA cannot continue to be reduced to how much money it will generate. Nor should it be a tug of war between sports betting operators, regulators and the leagues. The stakes are too high for that! Only with effective dialogue and cooperation will all key stakeholders be able to profit from the new business opportunities and safeguard the indispensable integrity of the game. The U.S. will not have a second opportunity to get this right. SIGA is here to assist and is committed to play a positive and constructive role."

Tim Schneider, Founder & Chairman, Sports Division, TEAMS, stated: "TEAMS '18 was pleased to feature a core of programming on sport betting in conjunction with SIGA. Sports event-rights holders and destinations across the U.S. are interested in how legalized sports betting will change the landscape of sports in the future and we look forward to continuing to provide educational programming on this important topic."

Andy Cunningham, Director Global Strategy Integrity Services, Sportradar "The US now has the opportunity and a clean slate to install an integrity framework that is ‘best in class’ and gives US sports the utmost protection against match-fixing and betting related corruption."

Benjie Cherniak, President, Don Best Sports: "Let’s get an integrity framework in place. Then we can launch sports betting in the U.S. The more you bring sports betting out of the black market the better off you are."

Bryan Pettigrew, CMO, Breeders’ Cup: "I believe there could be mutually beneficial partnerships with Sports Betting in the U.S. and horse racing facilities. We are seeing the positive results at the horse track in New Jersey and similarly at ventures in the United Kingdom and Australia."

Dale Sheehan, Director of Capacity Building and Education, ICSS: "The US is not immune from threats of match-fixing, sports betting fraud and criminal infiltration. No country is. The ICSS is at the forefront of the fight for sport integrity worldwide. To counter these threats and service sport, we have set up a Sport Integrity Hotline which is open for business in the US and beyond."

Affy Sheikh, Head of Integrity Services, Starlizard: "The SIGA Universal Standards need to be brought to the fore. They’re a huge step in the right direction, helping to ensure sports are prepared against a threat of match-fixing and integrity issues that cause them great harm."

Lisa Delpy Neirotti, George Washington University: "There will be a cultural shift in the acceptance of gambling in the US as a result of the repeal of PASPA. That is why George Washington University has partnered with SIGA to ensure sport integrity is taught in the curriculum."

Dan Wallach, Attorney, Becker & Poliakoff: "The paramount consideration in any future regulatory and legal framework should be protecting the "integrity" of the sporting events and ensuring that they remain free of match-fixing and other corruptive influences."

-ENDS-

About SIGA

SIGA is the world´s largest coalition in the field of sport´s governance and integrity. Supported by more than 100 international multi-industry members and key stakeholders, SIGA is an independent and neutral global organisation whose mission is to bring about meaningful reforms and enhance the governance and integrity of all sports through a set of core principles and universal standards operated by an independent and neutral body. Pursuing an holistic and reformist approach to the challenges facing sport, SIGA is the only organisation to bring together sport, governments, academia, international organisations, sponsors, business, rights holders, NGOs and professional services companies, from every region in the world, around a common cause of fostering greater integrity throughout sport.

For the list of SIGA Members & Committed Supporters, please visit http://siga-sport.net/siga-members/. For more information on SIGA, including its vision, mission and reform agenda, please refer to the website: www.siga-sport.com. Find SIGA on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SIGAlliance.

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