Bookmakers have "hit back at criticisms of their role in tennis following the re-emergence of match-fixing claims -- by stressing their interest in keeping the sport clean, and the growing popularity of their services," according to Nicholas Megaw of the FINANCIAL TIMES. At last month's Australian Open, U.K. betting group William Hill "acted as a major sponsor for the first time." For the company, this deal -- the first of its kind at a Grand Slam tennis event -- "was an attempt to raise its profile and performance in the Australian market." William Hill Australia accounts for 7% of the group’s £1.6B ($2.3B) annual revenue, "but sales declined" 10% to £53M ($75.5M) in the first half of this year. However, a series of match-fixing allegations "aired at the start of the Melbourne tournament led to attacks on the sports betting business as a whole." William Hill and its rivals Ladbrokes and Coral this week "stressed their efforts to work with authorities to prevent criminal activity." Coral spokesperson Simon Clare said that attacking the betting industry was “an illogical response” to the sport’s problems. Clare said, "Bookies are an easy target. It's us who stand to lose [from corruption]." His "view was shared" by Ladbrokes Media Dir David Williams. Williams said, "Ultimately the victims of alleged corruption in sport can be the regulated, licensed and responsible bookmakers and their customers." In addition, the bookmakers said that customers "did not seem to believe tennis was tarnished." William Hill said that, during the first two days of the tournament, turnover on tennis bets was up 93% year-on-year, "driven in particular by a new app in Australia that helped in-play wagering rise" 258%. Similarly, Ladbrokes said that "its tennis betting volumes were up" 45% in the year-to-date, while at Coral the increase is more than 50%. William Hill Communications Dir Ciaran O'Brien said, “It takes a lot to put people off. The allegations are quite old and even if they’re true, it’s still a tiny minority that have been affected. It’s right for people to trust in the sport” (FT, 1/31).
