Sports Set for Gambling Windfall

Major governing bodies are looking forward to a multimillion-pound windfall from the gambling industry after the government agreed to support demands for bookmakers to contribute a share of their profits to sport.

Tessa Jowell and Richard Caborn agreed at a meeting on Wednesday night to back the case of the five major sports - football, tennis, both codes of rugby and cricket - and Caborn will now contact bookmakers to try to negotiate a settlement.

The ministers' support marks a major victory for sports that have been pushing for a contribution from the bookmaking industry for some time, arguing that the growth in gambling revenue from sports other than racing entitles them to a share of profits. They also believe the growing betting market threatens the integrity of their events and will cost more to police.

The government has been unwilling to extend the levy system that applies in racing, but now accepts that sport has a persuasive "moral case" for a cut of the estimated £500m annual turnover in sports betting. The exact financial formula that will be used is yet to be determined, but the governing bodies would settle for a voluntary payment of between £5m and £10m annually in the short term. A system similar to the levy, where a percentage of profits is passed to sport, may also be considered. The sports for their part have agreed to spend any money they receive, which will be divided between the five governing bodies, on policing their events or on funding grass-roots programs.

The bookmakers are understood to consider a voluntary contribution to be the least damaging option given the alternatives, and Caborn's initial soundings in the industry have been encouraging. Bookmakers are keen to avoid the government pursuing any interest in adapting the model used in Australia, where bookies can only legally run markets on events if they have bought the rights to do so from sport. They will be mindful however that once the principle of contributing is established, other sports that attract significant gambling interest such as snooker and darts are likely to press for a contribution.

The decision to negotiate with sport has been influenced by the increasingly exacting regulatory environment in which the gambling industry now operates. The Gambling Commission will publish its findings on the issue of information-sharing between sports and bookmakers later this month, with sports hopeful that bookies are eventually compelled to pass on details of suspicious betting patterns.

Meanwhile the Gambling Act, which comes into force in September, will make cheating, including the misuse of inside information, an offense punishable by two years' imprisonment.

Wembley plays it safe

Wembley has overcome a major security headache - over the threat of truck-bombers targeting the stadium - to ensure that arrangements for tomorrow's FA Cup final meet the demands of the Metropolitan Police.

When the stadium was designed in the 1990s the threat of suicide bombing was not high on the agenda, but changes in perceived threats mean the stadium has had to introduce temporary measures to allay fears.

While the area underneath the stadium is protected by permanent concrete barges to prevent a vehicle entering, there is no similar protection at vulnerable points where public roads cross Wembley Way on the stadium's northern approach.

The issue is further complicated by the fact that the land around the stadium is owned by the developer Quintain, whose cooperation is required to install safety measures. In a compromise temporary barges will be installed for major events, with police officers manning the access points.

Corinthian values leaked

Last-minute hitches behind the scenes at Wembley this week included the potentially damaging release of confidential data about the stadium's most valuable corporate and private customers. In the flurry of emails and telephone calls exchanged between customers and Wembley staff in the past week one seat-holder was accidentally emailed the membership details of every Corinthian Club seat holder, each of whom has paid £25,000 for membership. Wembley have investigated and are satisfied that no sensitive information was released.

TMS marks half-century

The start of Test Match Special's 50th season on the air has prompted a rash of celebratory banquets. With veteran producer Peter Baxter, left, due to retire at the end of the summer, the Five Live producer Adam Mountford remains favorite to replace him, and he will be under pressure from purists to ensure that the program retains its singular tone.

Chelsea condemn fans

Chelsea were embarrassed by fans at the club's £135-a-head player of the year dinner on Tuesday when they chanted a controversial song at Gary Lineker. Dozens yelled "Yiddo, Yiddo" at Lineker, who was presenting an award, in reference to his Spurs links. There is growing unease at the chant's anti-Semitic overtones and Chelsea issued a statement last night saying: "This type of behavior is totally unacceptable."

Lessons for the Aussies

British sport is used to looking down under for sporting guidance, but for once the Australians appear to have spied something worth copying here. Sue Campbell, chair of UK Sport and the Youth Sports Trust, is in Australia this week at the behest of their minister for sport, George Brandis, to discuss the UK approach to school sport. He asked her to make the keynote address at Australia's National Forum on Physical Education and School Sport last night.