Betting market deal with Channel Nine 'a part of business': Taylor

Sydney, Sep 5 : Former Australian captain Mark Taylor has defended the practice of advertising fluctuations in the betting market during Channel Nine broadcasts as “business”.

“Unfortunately it is a part of life.  Does it concern me? All these things concern me at times, yes. Cricket Australia – I’m a board director there - [it has] an association with a betting organization,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Taylor, as saying.

“I work for Channel Nine [and] we have an association with a betting organisation. I’m a part of a charity and we get money from a [betting] organisation … so yeah, unfortunately it is a part of life. It’s like drinking, and before that it was smoking.”

“All these things, which not everyone agrees with, are a part of business. I think it’s great when an organisation puts money back into sport because it says, ‘You go and spend our money in the areas where you can make a difference’,” he added.

Taylor’s remarks comes after Cricket Australia gave the green signal to cricket betting during the Ashes series, despite the controversy of ‘spot-fixing’ scandal rocking the cricket world.

According to reports, global betting exchange Betfair, Cricket Australia and Channel Nine have inked separate commercial deals that will see cricket betting this summer promoted more than ever.

The sponsorship deal with CA will allow Betfair to have betting caravans at Test cricket grounds as well as signage and other exclusive rights.

The advertising deal with Channel Nine will allow it to screen live cricket odds during Tests, with commentators such as Richie Benaud spruiking the betting products.