Gambling Adverts Criticised at Australian Open

On the day that the tennis world was rocked by match fixing allegations there has been further criticism of a sponsorship deal between the Australian Open and the bookmaker William Hill.

While William Hill is in no way implicated in the match fixing allegations there are advertisements for the bookies displayed in three areas during the Grand Slam tournament and the bookmaker is also in the process of expanding its tennis product range. Critics have said that this represents a problematic deepening of ties between large bookmakers and tennis.

On Monday evidence was revealed that match fixing is widespread in tennis with 16 players taking part in the Australian Open having been previously flagged by the Tennis Integrity Unit. Critics now say that the promotion of sport as a means to gamble could further corruption and make it easier for match fixers to hide their activities.