ESSA to monitor golf’s The Open

Betting industry integrity body ESSA has entered into a partnership with the R&A, organiser of golf’s The Open, to help protect the tournament from betting-related corruption.

Under the formal information-sharing arrangement, ESSA will utilise its alert and reporting system to monitor for suspicious betting patterns during The Open.

The ESSA system comprises some of the largest betting operators in the world.

“Golf has so far not been confronted by the same issues that many other sports have come up against,” M&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said.

“We cannot be complacent however, and we want to do all we can to protect The Open and the values for which golf is known throughout the world.

“Our arrangement with ESSA, whose members include many recognised international betting operators with access to detailed market data and a commitment to protecting sport, will allow us to effectively monitor betting on the Championship.”

Mike O’Kane, chairman of ESSA, added: “ESSA and its members believe that maintaining the integrity of any sporting event is fundamental to its future and we are committed to doing all we can to help to uphold the core spirit of sport and fair play.

“Golf is founded on such principles and there are few global sporting events bigger than The Open.”

Related article: ESSA expands into Russia with Fonbet link-up