PGA looks to Genius Sports for new integrity programme

PGA has announced that that it will be introducing a more transparent and comprehensive gambling policy set to be introduced for the 2018 golfing season.

London-based sport data providers, Genius Sports, will be tasked with deploying their technology services to help detect and track potentially fraudulent bets. The PGA is also counting on the company to better educate players and other support team members of the illegality of their future wagers and how to resist and report potential approaches from third parties.

The reforms will ensure that anyone who has any association to the players and the tour cannot bet on the events. The new betting guidelines will be introduced under the banner of the PGA’s new ‘integrity programme’ set to start on January 1st 2018.

A press release by the PGA stated the partnership is designed “To maintain integrity and prevent and mitigate betting-related corruption in PGA Tour competitions - ensuring competitions always reflect, and appear to reflect, the best efforts of the players, while protecting the welfare of the players and others involved with the PGA Tour - through clear policies and regulations, ongoing education and training, and effective and consistent monitoring and enforcement functions.”

Although players within the PGA are already forbidden from betting, those rules will now extend to all members of their teams, tournament staff and even volunteers.

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said: “The bedrock of PGA Tour competition is the inherent values of golf and the honesty and integrity of our members. We recognise, however, that no sport is fully immune from the potential influence of gambling. So, we felt it was important to move forward with an Integrity Program to further protect our competition from betting-related issues. Genius Sports will provide essential support as we roll out the Program across the entire PGA Tour.”