A bill in New Zealand defining match-fixing as a criminal offense subject to prison time is advancing in Parliament with the aim of enacting it into law this year.
The measure, drafted with an eye on the Cricket World Cup and FIFA Under-20 World Cup, both of which are coming to New Zealand in 2015, would amend the Crimes Act 1961 to specifically target “manipulation, with intent to influence a betting outcome, of various sporting competitions and events through deception”.
A conviction would carry jail time of up to seven years.
Justice Minister Judith Collins said that while match-fixing is covered under existing offenses, the bill would put it “beyond doubt” that it was covered under the Crimes Act, and citing the recent lifetime ban imposed on New Zealand cricketer Lou Vincent for match-fixing, she said the amendment is urgently needed.
New Zealand cricketer Chris Cairns is also under investigation.
“Match-fixing is a growing problem internationally and has been described as the No. 1 threat to the integrity, value and growth of sport,” said Sports Minister Murray McCully. “As we have seen from recent events, New Zealand is not immune to this threat.”
In a report released earlier this year, the International Centre for Sport Security estimated that more than US$140 billion is laundered annually through sport betting, and 80% of global sport betting remains illegal.
The bill passed unanimously in its first reading late last month and will be sent to a select committee for consideration in the next Parliament, which convenes after the general election on 20th September.
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