The gambling operator Sky Bet ended its latest “Commentator Bingo” betting market ahead of the match between Manchester United and Liverpool that took place on January 17th, following some concerns shared by Twitter users.
In the so-called novelty market, punters were allowed to place wagers on the exact words and phrases that were used by the commentators who participated in Sky Football’s live match commentary – Gary Neville, Martin Tyler and Jamie Carragher.
However, an issue occurred at the time as Twitter users shared they were not sure whether Sky Sports had actually allowed the gambling company to offer a betting market based on a commentary for the highest-profile football match in the English Premier League (EPL). As a result, Sky Bet had removed its “Commentator Bingo” inventory option within hours of the beginning of the match. The gambling operator had not provided any official explanation for this action at the time “Commentator Bingo” was removed.
Although Sky Sports and Sky Bet share a common brand name, there is no other relationship between them. In 2015, Sky Bet, which was formerly held by Sky Plc, was sold to CVC Capital Partners in an £800-million deal. Then, in 2018 and 2019, it joined forces with The Stars Group and Flutter Entertainment, respectively.
Carolyn Harris MP Says Novelty Market Offering Was “Unbelievable”
The novelty market faced criticism from the chair of the Gambling Related Harm All-Party Parliamentary Group Carolyn Harris, Labour MP. Ms Harris explained for a local media hub that the gambling company offering such a market was not right. She criticised the company, saying that such an offering without providing information about betting limits or the boundaries on what the punters would bet on was unbelievable.
For the time being, novelty football markets such as Commentator Bingo offered by Sky Bet are not suspended under the existing UK gambling legislation. However, after multiple violations of gambling laws and the latest findings of England international football player Kieran Trippier breached the rules of the Football Association, the country’s gambling industry was put under severe criticism.
As for Trippier, as Casino Guardian already revealed, the player was found guilty of encouraging some friends of his to bet on his move from Tottenham to Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2019. High-profile suspensions of breaching FA rules and UK gambling legislation had previously been imposed on Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge, too. As a result, the local gambling operator Betway rolled out an industry petition under which the majority of bookmakers that offer their services in the country should no more offer bets linked to football player transfers.
For the time being, the main regulatory body of the UK gambling sector, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), has made no comment on the issue of whether new bets would be part of the 2005 Gambling Act review.
- Author
Olivia Cole
