The gambler and the top-50 tennis players

I took the thread title from this - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-35802893

Depressing stuff really.

Yeah it is very disturbing. Tennis like boxing as an individual sport and a sport where money at the mid levels is not so high that two bit thugs like this could corrupt a player. This to me has always been a big danger for the credibility of the game. I don't think very high ranked players are involved frankly. The money and brand name is so huge I can't see them threatening it for the sums these guys are talking about. I mean Starace is supposed to have thrown a match for about 25,000 dollars that isn't very much to sell your entire career for.

Not depressing, just basic economics.  I see no difference in this and John McEnroe's no-brainer comment.  The sport could do better by ensuring nobody is a net loser when entering and participating in an ATP/WTA/ITF tournament by having minimum level expenses paid for.  Essentially have less of an exponential increase in prize money - have it more linear.  The top players enhance their income by gaining endorsements and sponsorships.

Ps: In competitive sports as long as both opponents are not trying to lose a set or a particular game, then all one has to do is not try so hard or go for risky low percentage shots, the competitive nature of the opponent would ensure the opponent wins the game or set. They say it is only about a 5% difference that separates the very top players from the rest.

Nore Staat wrote:Not depressing, just basic economics.  I see no difference in this and John McEnroe's no-brainer comment.  The sport could do better by ensuring nobody is a net loser when entering and participating in an ATP/WTA/ITF tournament by having minimum level expenses paid for.  Essentially have less of an exponential increase in prize money - have it more linear.  The top players enhance their income by gaining endorsements and sponsorships.

Ps: In competitive sports as long as both opponents are not trying to lose a set or a particular game, then all one has to do is not try so hard or go for risky low percentage shots, the competitive nature of the opponent would ensure the opponent wins the game or set.  They say it is only about a 5% difference that separates the very top players from the rest.

I agree, they should something to help differ the costs of coaching, travel, and other expenses. All the people in the main draw should get some freebies to bring their costs down so there aren't as many financially struggling players in the top 100 or 150 even.

Betting and Pay day loan companies, have ruined this world.

I mean these 2 types are only sponsors on Sky Sports showing Indian Wells, what else is there to say.

Jahu wrote:Betting and Pay day loan companies, have ruined this world.

I mean these 2 types are only sponsors on Sky Sports showing Indian Wells, what else is there to say.

As you were commenting on the Indian Wells thread can I assume that you were watching on Sky Sports or do you just follow the online scores ?

Yes, it was Sky Sports, and I will admit this year they  have toned down the Wonga style crap, but for last 2 years, on every break between games, there was 1 Beting add "Sky tennis is Sponsored by Bet 365" which is still ongoing, and one Wonga style add, just these too, all damn day, on all Sky Tennis broadcasts.

So encourage poor people to go get money on payday Loan companies and next minute they show them where to go and spend that money, on a Betting website, and of course then we have corruption stuff as reported on this article.

Even Eurosport that does AO and RG, is full of same stuff.

Criminal and should be banned, sick marketing.

Totally agree, pay day loan and gambling adverts make me sick.

After then come PPI claim adverts, followed by other ambulance chasing lawyers adverts. God knows where commercial TV would be without these creeps.

Thank God for Sky Plus; like Peter Kay said, +30 is the best invention ever; generally I'll freeze the TV, go and attend to something more useful (which is anything at all) and come back to fast forward through the ads. With practice you can go ages without seeing an advert.

socal1976 wrote:

Nore Staat wrote:Not depressing, just basic economics.  I see no difference in this and John McEnroe's no-brainer comment.  The sport could do better by ensuring nobody is a net loser when entering and participating in an ATP/WTA/ITF tournament by having minimum level expenses paid for.  Essentially have less of an exponential increase in prize money - have it more linear.  The top players enhance their income by gaining endorsements and sponsorships.

Ps: In competitive sports as long as both opponents are not trying to lose a set or a particular game, then all one has to do is not try so hard or go for risky low percentage shots, the competitive nature of the opponent would ensure the opponent wins the game or set.  They say it is only about a 5% difference that separates the very top players from the rest.

I agree, they should something to help differ the costs of coaching, travel, and other expenses. All the people in the main draw should get some freebies to bring their costs down so there aren't as many financially struggling players in the top 100 or 150 even.

Crooks are crooks; they don't go to it because they're forced to but because they're greedy.

I'd agree with wider distribution of course, just not because it'd stop this.

Andrew Castle you wankpuffin!

Yeah UK has become like US in the Law department, sue to Gov cause you broke your Jimmy Choo'se on a bad pavement or cut your nail at work and cant scratch yourself.

Sad state of affairs.

Jahu wrote:Yes, it was Sky Sports, and I will admit this year they  have toned down the Wonga style crap, but for last 2 years, on every break between games, there was 1 Beting add "Sky tennis is Sponsored by Bet 365" which is still ongoing, and one Wonga style add, just these too, all damn day, on all Sky Tennis broadcasts.

So encourage poor people to go get money on payday Loan companies and next minute they show them where to go and spend that money, on a Betting website, and of course then we have corruption stuff as reported on this article.

Even Eurosport that does AO and RG, is full of same stuff.

Criminal and should be banned, sick marketing.

Maybe I'm a bit too sensible but if I were close to needing a pay day loan the first thing I would do is cancel my Sky subscription and save some money that way. As for gambling anyone with any sense knows it is exactly that, a gamble !!! The odds are always stacked against you unless of course there is some sort of fixing going on. In tennis who knows how a player is going to play on a given day. They may have an unknown injury, feel ill, have fallen out with their partner, even not prepared to go the extra yard as they have bigger targets in the near future. Would be surprised if the tennis matches in question caused the small time gamblers much as most would be matches that very little would be gambled on anyway. That said anyone caught match/spot fixing definitely deserves to be banned.

I actually just tune out mentally when any advert comes on television

Calder106 wrote:

Jahu wrote:Yes, it was Sky Sports, and I will admit this year they  have toned down the Wonga style crap, but for last 2 years, on every break between games, there was 1 Beting add "Sky tennis is Sponsored by Bet 365" which is still ongoing, and one Wonga style add, just these too, all damn day, on all Sky Tennis broadcasts.

So encourage poor people to go get money on payday Loan companies and next minute they show them where to go and spend that money, on a Betting website, and of course then we have corruption stuff as reported on this article.

Even Eurosport that does AO and RG, is full of same stuff.

Criminal and should be banned, sick marketing.

Maybe I'm a bit too sensible but if I were close to needing a pay day loan the first thing I would do is cancel my Sky subscription and save some money that way. As for gambling anyone with any sense knows it is exactly that, a gamble !!! The odds are always stacked against you unless of course there is some sort of fixing going on. In tennis who knows how a player is going to play on a given day. They may have an unknown injury, feel ill, have fallen out with their partner, even not prepared to go the extra yard as they have bigger targets in the near future.  Would be surprised if the tennis matches in question caused the small time gamblers much as most would be matches that very little would be gambled on anyway. That said anyone caught match/spot fixing definitely deserves to be banned.

I actually just tune out mentally when any advert comes on television

Just to add that you never see the big bookmakers going out of business - Ladbrokes were formed n 1886, William Hill formed in 1934, Corals formed in 1926.......get the picture. All in existence for so long - proof they are the only real winners in the gambling game. Any sportsmen that bet in matches they are involved deserve a lifetime ban though.