Andy Murray was "openly critical of game’s governing bodies who take gambling companies’ money with one hand while trying to hammer out corruption with the other," according to Barry Flatman of the LONDON TIMES. He said, "I think it’s a little bit hypocritical, really. I don’t believe the players are allowed to be sponsored by betting companies but then the tournaments are. I don’t really understand how it all works. I think it’s a bit strange." With the opening rounds at Melbourne Park being played "under a cloud of suspicion and tennis authorities working overtime to stamp out the threat of corruption linked to gambling," William Hill, the bookmaker, is "proudly displaying its newly-bought status as the tournament’s official betting partner." Less than two months ago, the Int'l Tennis Federation announced Betway as an int'l sponsor for the Davis Cup. However, ATP President Chris Kermode provided a counter-argument to Murray’s views, "saying that a close relationship with gambling companies is beneficial to tennis." Kermode: "I don’t think it’s an issue because and I think it can actually help at times. The Tennis Integrity Unit are working with betting companies all the time to spot corruption" (LONDON TIMES, 1/19). MARKETING MAGAZINE's Daniel Farey-Jones reported Murray "was correct in asserting that players can’t be sponsored by bookmakers." In addition, players "are not allowed to appear in commercials encouraging others to bet on tennis, write for a tennis betting publication or conduct personal appearances for a tennis betting company" (MARKETING MAGAZINE, 1/19).
BIG PICTURE: REUTERS' Martyn Herman reported former Australian Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka "believes betting companies can help tennis weed out corruption, playing down concerns over the propensity of gambling brands sponsoring major events." He said that the "bigger picture" could "actually be a benefit for tennis as it tries to stay clean." Wawrinka: "Probably if they sponsor a sport, they are going to try everything to make sure there is no corruption. That can be something good for tennis also. Maybe the gambling companies can come to tennis and make sure there is no corruption, because they lose a lot of money when there is problem" (REUTERS, 1/19).
