The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) is the global leader for the international sport of thoroughbred racing and aims to promote all aspects of the sport around the world.
The WLA works with diverse partners across the global regulated lotteries, sports betting operators, and sports world, to raise awareness of the issues related to illegal betting operators, share best practices, as well as develop tools and strategies to help WLA members combat illegal betting activities in their jurisdictions.
The IFHA Council on Anti-Illegal Betting & Related Crime – one such partner – is a think tank comprised of members, including the WLA, from organizations engaged in horse racing and sports integrity, law enforcement, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and academia.
A recent report entitled The Dark Side of Betting: Inside a South African Illegal Betting Exchange, highlights the threat that illegal betting exchanges pose to racing integrity in South Africa, and underscores the need for gambling regulators and law enforcement agencies to take action against such organizations.
It examines myplaygate.com and two mirror websites associated with it, that were identified by the IFHA Council. For the purpose of the research, the three websites have been analysed together and referred to as the myplaygate network.
The Report was carried out by Douglas Robinson, Director, IFHA Council on Anti-Illegal Betting and Related Crime Executive Manager, International Illegal Betting Research and Liaison, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, with Assistance from Doris Mao, Council Secretary of the IFHA Council on Anti-Illegal Betting and Related Crime.
