London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Bill

I am grateful to noble Lords for their contributions. My noble friend Lord Pendry has focused on an issue that concerns us all, especially with regard to the Olympic Games, because we are all aware that the international Olympic movement sets high standards and follows high ideals. The noble Lord was absolutely right when he described the dangers that betting can bring to sport and the fact that, mercifully, aspects of the Olympics have steered clear of a great deal of that. Certainly the greatest scandals have occurred in other sports, but that is not to under-estimate the challenge that faces us all with regard to corruption or cheating. We want to play the fullest possible part in ensuring that the Olympic Games lives up to their ideals. We have the same attitude towards other sport as well. That is why, when it came to gambling, we tackled this issue in the only way we see as effective. The Gambling Commission, set up by the Gambling Act 2005, has the key objective of keeping gambling crime-free. Otherwise, gambling potentially interferes with the process of sport and renders the whole concept meaningless. The commission regulates all British-licensed bookmakers and remote betting businesses and has a range of powers at its disposal. It will work closely with the sporting and Olympic authorities to minimise threats to the integrity of the games. We do not believe that we need further legislation for this. We have a functional, active body to deal with gambling and keep it fair. Although I fully subscribe to the sentiments of my noble friend Lord Pendry and his warning about betting in relation to the Olympic Games is timely, we are equipped to do all that we can. The noble Lord, Lord Glentoran, showed us how that ability was restricted. We have no plans to legislate to restrict betting on the Olympics or any other sporting event because we do not think we have the capacity to do so. In ensuring that the sporting events are free of corruption and have integrity in the competition between athletes and sportsmen of all kinds, the onus must be on the governing bodies to monitor and control their sports. I know what my noble friend is thinking of when he says that governing bodies ought not to be left alone to do this and asks why the Government cannot give additional assistance. In terms of integrity on the field of play or in the arena, that is for the governing bodies to control. We can ensure that gambling is fair and that those organising it do not cheat. But we cannot see how we could ban gambling on sporting events. There are enormous practical difficulties in restricting betting on the Olympics and attempting to do so could be harmful. As the noble Lord, Lord Glentoran, indicated, we might drive abroad or underground that which at the moment in this country is explicit, clear and capable of being regulated. Any move to restrict gambling would simply drive punters to the Internet sites. The noble Lord, Lord Glentoran, dramatically indicated what percentage already exists on those sites. Once they are there, offshore, on the Internet, they are beyond any controls of our Gambling Commission. Not only would we fail to prevent betting on the Olympics, we would not be able to enforce the law on the activity of betting through the powers exercised by the Gambling Commission. It has the power to void bets on any event where it is satisfied that the bet is substantially unfair. This would include instances where either party to the bet had been convicted of cheating. If the commission considers that it may want to void a bet, it has the power also to suspend that bet and to investigate. Under the Gambling Act, it has the capacity to prosecute, so that an individual faces up to two years in prison for cheating. Those are substantial deterrents that offer protection against cheating. They therefore aid sport in those terms. That is the most that we can do. To suggest that we ban betting is to ask us to do that which is not realistic. My noble friend wisely and properly raised the issue in the context of this Bill, because we intend to make sure that we work closely with the International Olympic Committee and LOGOC during the coming months on the issue of betting so that we can tighten up the situation as far as possible. We have the power in the Gambling Act and by way of the Gambling Commission to do what we need to do. We do not need any amendment to this Bill. On the other front, the noble Lord, Lord Glentoran, used his amendments to identify clearly how dangerous it would be to think that we could set about banning betting. That would merely ensure that betting went on outside the jurisdiction of this country.