Sports betting and the integrity of Australian sport: Athletes' and non-athletes’ perceptions of betting-motivated corruption in sport

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to gain a deeper understanding of betting-motivated corruption in Australian sport by exploring key stakeholders' perceptions. More specifically, it aims to discover the nature and perceived risks of betting-motivated corruption from the experiences of those within sporting organisations, and the effectiveness of anti-corruption strategies currently in place within Australian sport. Through a qualitative case study approach of three sites (sports) in Australia-rugby league, swimming and water polo-insight into the perspectives of 22 participants, namely athletes and non-athletes (coaches, support staff, administrators and referees) was gained through semistructured interviews. Using the thematic analysis technique, patterns of themes were identified across the interview transcripts. The findings indicate that athletes and non-athletes view betting-motivated corruption and the involvement of transnational organised crime as non-existent within their sport. There were also mixed perceptions surrounding the effectiveness of current anti-corruption strategies in each sport. The paper provides a platform for future research and highlights the need for improvement in the anti-corruption strategies in place to prevent the threat of betting-motivated corruption on the integrity of Australian sport.

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