“Say It Ain’t So”: Betting-Related Malpractice in Sport

The paper identifies key changes in the betting environment that have raised risks to the integrity of sport. The risks are discussed in the context of a model where potential fixers evaluate the costs and benefits to them of engaging in manipulation of events on the field for betting gain. Using this framework, particular markets and situations are indicated as especially susceptible to corruption and these predictions appear to be consistent with the set of cases that have been exposed in contemporary sport. Possible policy responses are discussed.