Wide Boys, Scammers or Cheats? The 'Courtsiding' Phenomenon and the Reaction by Sporting Institutions

Abstract

Originating in the world of tennis, courtsiding (or pitchsiding) is the practice of relaying real time information to remote locations in order to take advantage of technological, broadcasting delays that may facilitate the manipulation of bets on what will happen (or already has) by gamblers and/or sports books.Frequently associated with match and spot fixing, courtsiding has attracted similar prohibitions, particularly from the sporting organisations affected. It is not at all certain however, that the legislative and regulatory response to fraudulently manipulating events within a sporting contest for personal gain can (or should) sanction courtsiding behaviour to the same degree.This paper investigates the phenomenon of courtsiding in the context of the existing and newly enacted sanctions against match fixing. The attitude and actions of sporting bodies in trying to control the practice is also canvassed. As a result, it seems that when placing a bet is not an offence, it is likely that contractually proscribing gambling practices within sporting venues is a rational response by sports bodies wanting to remove any taint of gaming activity from their sport. However, whether courtsiding should be seen in the same vein as match or spot fixing is not clear and whether the activity is in some way (illegally) influencing a ‘betting outcome’ (as required by the statutory prohibitions) remains a moot point.