A British online betting company denied allegations yesterday it was setting up an office and a soccer lottery in Taiwan, contradicting reports in the Chinese-language media.
Sportingbet executive vice chairman Mark Blandford said at a press conference held in Sanhsia, Taipei County, that his company was not negotiating with the government to run a soccer lottery, or open an office in the country.
PHOTO: JULES QUARTLY, TAIPEI TIMES
"This is not the case. We will be supplying the Taiwanese market from the UK, from our operations in London.
"Customers have to send money and open an account in the UK to do business. So, there is no aspect of gambling in Taiwan.
"The stories are unfounded. Sportingbet is not setting up an
office in Taiwan because this would be illegal."
Blandford said betting in England was regulated and his company was properly licensed, so it was not breaking any laws, even if Taiwanese did access and use their site.
Gambling is banned in Taiwan, but nevertheless thousands of Taiwanese make bets every day, through online video gaming, casinos, bingo and horse racing.
It is estimated there are betting losses of US$500 million annually in Taiwan, through online gambling on US sports via companies based in Nevada.
Blandford said there was a "huge underground supply" for Taiwanese bettors, which was being met by online operators and gangsters.
He said it was the spike in local activity during the World Cup -- held in South Korea and Japan last year -- that prompted him to come to Taiwan.
"The fact that Taiwan, with its small population of 23 million, is the world's second largest market for NBA and MLB is ample proof of the Chinese people's love of gambling and their spending power," Blandford said.
He said there were currently 500 customers who used Sportingbet in Taiwan and he hoped this would increase to 3,000 by the end of the year and double after that.
Asked if he was concerned by media reports saying his company could be investigated and its Web site blocked, Blandford said this would be regrettable.
"What we have not seen in Taiwan is censorship of the media, as we have seen perhaps in China. The route to censorship is dangerous and difficult to do," he said.
"There is an increasing trend
toward liberalization. Many governments have seen online gambling as a threat but have now changed their view because they realize it can be an opportunity."
He said when Sportingbet was founded in 1998 there were just four governments that allowed online betting and now there are over 70.
He said many countries' laws regarding gambling predated the Internet, which was bringing fresh challenges to legislators.
"The Internet is cutting across geographical boundaries and today we have online sports betting, casinos, keno, video gaming -- all in a virtual world.
"I believe the Internet will cause the rules for gambling to change and challenge government monopolies on gambling," Blandford said.
"By regulating sports gambling, governments will be able to gain by way of taxation and at the same time take the activity away from illegal operations."
Questioned as to why Taiwan dollars should go to foreign companies that avoid paying tax here, Blandford said this was "the heart of the matter."
"Sportingbet would welcome the opportunity to enter into dialogue with the various authorities and form fully regulated and taxed operations."
The company's finance director, Charles Moore said of the furor that has been generated by the press, "We never expected a response like this. This a market where we have 500 customers, not like the US where we have 400,000."
Moore said worldwide about 11 million people gambled online with a combined stake of more than US$7 billion per year.
Sportingbet claims to have 837,431 customers in 150 countries, using 11 currencies and 11 languages. It is the biggest online gaming company in the UK.
SSC Napoli’s Italian Serie A title hopes suffered a late setback on Sunday when they were held to a 2-2 draw at home against Genoa, setting up a thrilling season finale with closest rivals Inter just one point behind. The hosts remain top with 78 points, holding a slim lead over Inter, who won 2-0 at Torino earlier on Sunday, with two rounds remaining. To make matters worse for Napoli, midfielder Stanislav Lobotka, struggling with an ankle injury, was forced off just minutes after the match began. Scott McTominay delivered a perfect pass into the box where Romelu Lukaku got
A stunning Lamine Yamal strike on Thursday helped crown Barcelona La Liga champions with a 2-0 win over local rivals RCD Espanyol, with victory ensuring Real Madrid cannot catch them at the top of the table. Yamal’s effort and Fermin Lopez’s goal took Hansi Flick’s side seven points clear of Los Blancos with two matches remaining, to clinch Barcelona’s 28th title and complete a superb domestic treble. Only the UEFA Champions League title escaped an exciting young Barca side this season, as they won the league for the second time in six years, at Espanyol’s ground again just as in 2022-2023. Back then,
Jannik Sinner on Thursday marched into the semi-finals of the Italian Open after destroying Casper Ruud in straight sets 6-0, 6-1, while Coco Gauff won a marathon three-set battle with China’s Zheng Qinwen to advance to the women’s singles final. American Gauff is to face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in today’s title match after pulling through 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) in a match that lasted over three-and-a-half hours. Ruud was supposed to be Sinner’s toughest test in Rome since he came back from his three-month doping ban, as the Norwegian came into the match in hot form on clay after winning in
Shohei Ohtani on Thursday delivered his first two-homer game of the season and had six RBIs as the Los Angeles Dodgers poured it on with five long balls in a 19-2 victory over the visiting Athletics. Max Muncy, Andy Pages and James Outman also hit home runs for the Dodgers, who left no doubt by taking a 13-2 lead following a seven-run third inning. Muncy and Kim Hye-seong each had three hits for Los Angeles. Dodgers right-hander Matt Sauer led off a bullpen game by allowing two runs in four innings. Left-hander Justin Wrobleski (1-1) finished with four scoreless innings after he
RSS