Temptation !

The fact that "match fixing " has moved to the junior levels of tennis seems to be part and parcel of permitting betting on specific events that happen within sporting games.  One of the best defences against "whole of game " outcomes was the need in team sports to corrupt a number of players to ensure that outcome.

Fortunately, the gaming industry has specific algorithms to quickly detect unusual betting plunges and laws are in place to suspend betting and cancel bets already in place.  Unfortunately the outcome will probably succeed if the number placing bets can be restrained to a very small group and they are not too greedy in the size of their bets placed.  It seems that the syndicates are getting very clever at disguising the tactics that deliver profits.

In the particular case that is making headlines the bet was not on the outcome of the tennis match.  The bet was on the result of a particular "set "within the game and to achieve that loss the player involved needed to make a number of "unforced errors "of play.  Betting scrutineers well versed in the game are then forced to make a decision on the legitimacy of play.

Obviously, when world tennis champions are playing in events like the Davis cup the level of betting surges but a sudden betting plunge on a junior game will certainly ring alarm bells because it is out of step with normal betting trends.   It is quite clear that sports administrations take corruption very seriously and offenders can expect long suspensions from play.

It is unlikely that sportspeople at the pinnacle of fame would be tempted to cheat. Their legitimate rewards are far too great to be put at risk, but those working their way in the junior grades are much more vulnerable.  Here the financial rewards are meagre and it is tempting to consider attaining a large sum of money for what is always suggested will be a "one off " event.   Usually it doesn't end that way.   Once " hooked ", the player is under pressure to deliver more rewards.

The problem is that sport has become synonymous with money.  There was a time - not very long ago - when the average football player earned a living in a full time job - and played sport as a weekend activity.   Today a player that makes selection into a national team expects to be feted as a celebrity - and paid accordingly.  That A-Listing expectation has spread to most other sports and with it comes fame and prize money that lifts those at the peak of their game to millionaire status.

Unfortunately these rewards are graded by the popularity of each individual sport and in particular, women's sport delivers far lesser pay days.  National standards have descended to a low ebb with the knowledge that the very pinnacle of sport - the Olympics - have been tainted because the prestige of winning gold medals is so equated with national pride that entire teams have been subjected to a regime of clandestine drug cheating under government auspices.

Despite strict drug testing regimes in place, if the national resources of a country's science establishment is directed at achieving sporting fame it is not a level playing field.  No wonder match fixing is an increasing sporting phenomenon !