Gambling Policy
Integrity is a core value of the WAL, and the WAL is committed to maintaining the integrity of the League, its matches, competitors, coaches, and other League personnel. Everyone associated with the WAL is expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the highest standards of honesty, fairness, and ethical dealings.
Gambling on WAL matches or causing WAL match outcomes to be determined by anything other than their merits presents serious risks to the integrity of our League. Even a perception by our fans that WAL matches are “fixed” or otherwise subject to undue influence would be extraordinarily damaging to the WAL and the reputation and career of anyone involved. The WAL is committed to taking all appropriate steps to safeguard our league and sport against possible threats to the integrity of the League. In a rapidly changing gambling landscape, however, the WAL wants to afford its Competitors, League and WAL personnel the opportunity to partake in non-WAL gambling, where it is legal to do so. The rules set forth below are intended to mitigate risks to the League while permitting engagement in legal, non-WAL gambling.
This policy applies to all full - and part-time League and Staff personnel, including League employees, WAL professional Competitors, investors, coaches, trainers, referees, officials, security personnel, production personnel, consultants, physicians and trainers, and any other staff associated with the WAL and/or WAL matches (collectively, “WAL Personnel”).
1. GAMBLING RELATED PROHIBITIONS.
The WAL prohibits WAL Personnel from engaging in the following conduct:
- Illegal Gambling. Participating in or facilitating any form of illegal gambling.
- Betting on WAL Matches. Placing, soliciting, or facilitating any bet, whether directly or indirectly through a third-party, on any WAL match, event, or other activity, regardless of whether such betting is otherwise legal. This includes betting, either directly or indirectly, on match outcome, statistics, score, performance of any individual participant, or any other kind of“proposition bet” on which wagering is offered. For clarity, this prohibition also includes betting, directly or indirectly, on any other event concerning or related to the WAL, including player match selections, new athletes to the “Elite” level, or disciplinary matters. Additionally, WAL Personnel are prohibited from participating in anyone else’s betting activities, asking anyone to place bets on WALmatches, events, or other activities on their behalf, or encouraging anyone else to place bets on WAL matches, events, or other activities.
- Match Fixing. Influencing or manipulating any WAL match, event, or other activity so that the outcome or any other aspect of such match, event, or activity is determined by anything other than its merits. This prohibition includes accepting something of value or otherwise agreeing to throw, fix,orinfluenceaWALmatch, event, or other activity, as well as failing to report any bribe, offer, or attempt to do so. Although the most common examples are “match fixing” and “point shaving” by the participants in the “Pit” or “field of play, this restriction is broader than that; it prohibits all actions intended to manipulate a WAL match, event, or other activity, including the outcome, statistics, score, conduct, or any other aspect of, or occurrence in, a WAL match, event, or activity, and applies whether or not the individual is a direct participant in a match, event, or other activity. The prohibition against“fixing” and match manipulation does not require that such efforts be successful; even an attempt to improperly influence or manipulate a WAL match, event, or other activity will violate this rule.
- Failing to Give Best Effort. Failing to give their best effort in any WAL match, event, or activity, for thepurposeofcausingsuchWALmatch, event, or activity to be determined by anything other than its merits, or, directly or indirectly, offering, giving, soliciting, encouraging, inducing, agreeing to accept, or accepting any bribe, gift, reward, or consideration of any kind which is, or could appear to be, related in any way to a participant in any WAL match, event, or activity failing to perform to the best of the participant’s ability.
- Inside Information and Tipping. Unless duly authorized by the League, using, disclosing, or providing access to confidential, non-public information to a person who does not have a legitimate business need for such information regarding: (a) any WAL match, event, or other activity; (b) any participating individual’s availability for or performance in any WAL match; or (c) any other conditions material to any WAL match, whether directly or indirectly through another person. Such information includes, without limitation, non-public information relating to player health or discipline. This prohibition includes failing to report any request for, disclosure of, or possible disclosure of such information. To ensure that they do not violate this rule, WAL Personnel should not disclose confidential,non-public information to any third party unless they are certain that such third party has a legitimate business need for that information.
- Gambling in the Workplace. Engaging in any form of legal or non-legal gambling while in any setting including, without limitation, locker rooms, green rooms, practice areas, flights,or hotels,orwhiletravelingonLeaguebusiness.For clarity, playing cards or other casino-type matches are permitted as long as nothing of value is wagered.
- Gifts and Services. Accepting complimentary rooms, services, or other gifts from a casino or other gambling-related establishment if the value exceeds Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250), except as expressly approved by (a) WAL Athlete Relations Director, in the case of players, coaches, athletic trainers, and match (b), in the case of all other WAL Personnel. Soliciting gifts of any value is never permissible.
- Casinos and Gambling-Related Enterprises. Working for, endorsing, owning, or operating, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, individually or through any business organization, any casino (whether or not such casino operates a Sportsbook or otherwise accepts wagering on sports), or another gambling-related enterprise, including, without limitation, any “on-line,” computer-based, telephone, or Internet gambling service, card room, lottery, slot machine operation, horse or dog racing track,off-track betting service, as well as any advisory service such as a publication or “tout service,” except as expressly authorized by the Commissioner. (This prohibition does not apply to WAL owners and investors.)
- In addition to the above prohibitions, it shall be a violation of this WAL Gambling Policy for any WAL Personnel to solicit, offer, induce, entice, instruct, persuade, encourage, pay for and/or facilitate another person or entity to violate this WAL Gambling Policy.
2. FANTASY MATCHES
WAL Personnel may not (i) participate in any WAL-related fantasy match or league, including, without limitation, any multi-sport or multi-event fantasy league that includes any matches, events, or players from the WAL or (ii) participate in any non-WAL fantasy match (including daily, season-long, or any other match format) in a jurisdiction where such participation is prohibited by applicable law or regulation. WAL Personnel also are prohibiting from assisting others who participate in such fantasy matches or leagues or arranging for others to play in such matches or leagues on their behalf, if the WAL Personnel’s own participation would be in violation of this rule.
3. REPORTING OBLIGATIONS
Policy Violations: All WAL Personnel have an affirmative obligation to report violations or potential violations of this WAL Gambling Policy, including improper approaches or solicitations by others to, among other things, bet on, fix, or disclose confidential information relating to any WAL match, event, or other activity, to the WAL Security Department at security@walunderground.com. The WAL maintains a hotline for anonymous reporting of information relevant to its enforcement of this WAL Gambling Policy. An anonymous report can be made online here.
Gambling Debt: Any WAL Personnel who incurs legal or non-legal gambling debts above Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) to any person(s)or gambling-related enterprise(s) shall promptly report such fact to the WAL Security Department at security@walunderground.com or an anonymous report can be made here.
Duty to Cooperate: All WAL Personnel are required to fully cooperate with any investigation conducted by or on behalf of the WAL with respect to this WAL Gambling Policy. This includes, without limitation, a duty not to obstruct or delay any investigation by way of concealing, tampering with, or destroying any documentation or other information that may be relevant to an investigation. All WAL Personnel are further prohibited from soliciting or inducing others not to comply with their duty to cooperate.
Retaliation: Retaliation in any form against an individual who reports a violation of this WAL Gambling Policy, or who assists in the investigation of a reported violation, is itself a serious violation of this WAL Gambling Policy. Acts of retaliation should be reported immediately and will be disciplined appropriately.
Questions regarding the application of this WAL Gambling Policy may be directed to Emily Gorge at the league office or at emily@walunderground.com
4. ADJUDICATION OF VIOLATIONS
The determination of whether a violation of this WAL Gambling Policy by WAL Personnel has occurred will be made in the sole discretion of the Commissioner or his designee. Violations of this WAL Gambling Policy constitute conduct detrimental to the League and a violation of the WAL Code of Personal Conduct and will subject the involved WAL personnel or athlete to appropriate disciplinary action in the sole discretion of the Commissioner. Such disciplinary action may include, without limitation, severe penalties, up to and including a fine, suspension, termination of employment, banishment from the WAL for life, and/or penalties under civil or criminal law.