The past few years have sometimes put the spotlight on what divides us. But if there’s one thing that can really bring us together as a nation, it’s sport.
Whether it’s cheering on our national team at global events or following the fortunes of our local side, sport has a unique ability to create common experiences and plays a very important role in our society.
That’s why I am deeply concerned about the Football Association’s deal with Bet365. It gives the latter exclusive rights to stream the FA Cup online. The catch? You need to register an online gambling account – and will doubtless be bombarded with inducements to gamble throughout every match.
Of course, gambling has always had its place in sport. It is an intrinsic part of the experience of things such as horse racing. I also understand that some people might enjoy betting on the football and appreciate the facilities offered by Bet365.
But there are two aspects of the deal that deeply concern me.
First, football is not horse racing. It is a much, much more popular sport and one without any automatic association with the betting industry. Whilst people who wish to bet on football should of course be free to do so, I do not support forcing fans to watch their team through online gambling sites. It’s as if we’d restricted public screenings to the bookies, not the pub!
Such a move could expose huge numbers of people who had not previously considered gambling to the usual array of introductory offers. If only a small portion of those end up with gambling problems, that is a huge amount of social and personal harm.
The deal also raises a broader point about public access to major sporting events. By giving Bet365 exclusivity, the FA are making it harder for people to watch. This not only denies individuals the opportunity, but as a result undermines the Cup as a shared national experience – in much the same way as when Test cricket was taken off the BBC.
Previously, as member of Parliament’s Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport Committee, I have already challenged the Government to sort this out.
