Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.

Just two days before its’ showpiece event, the Davis Cup final, the International Tennis Federation stood accused of hypocrisy as it announced Betway, one of the world’s leading betting and gaming companies, as an international sponsor of both Davis Cup and Fed Cup.

Insider betting on tennis is banned and seven years ago the ITF, along with the ATP World Tour, the WTA and the Grand Slams, provided the funding for the formation of the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU), making tennis one of the first major sports to establish its own dedicated anti-corruption unit.

Since then a series of players, coaches and others working within the sport have received life bans after being found guilty of betting on matches, fixing matches and colluding with gambling cartels.

The ITF insists all elements of the new partnership are fully compliant with the rules and interpretations of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program but it is widely known the TIU has long been uncomfortable with the sponsorship of the bet-at-home German Tennis Championships, staged at Hamburg’s Rothenbaum each July.

David Haggerty, the ITF’s newly installed president, welcomed the new partnership and said: “To continue strengthening our flagship events, Davis Cup and Fed Cup by BNP Paribas, the support of strong and creative partners like Betway who will elevate our fans’ enjoyment of the competitions is an important initiative.

“Betway is a well-respected international betting brand. The ITF and Betway share the mission to keep the sport of tennis clean.”

The Betway Group is a leading provider of first-class entertainment across sports betting, casino, bingo and poker. Launched in 2006, the company operates across a number of regulated online markets and holds licenses in the UK, Malta, Italy, Denmark, Spain, Belgium, Germany and Ireland.

Based in Malta and Guernsey, with support from London, Isle of Man, Stockholm and Cape Town, the Betway team comprises over 1,000 people.

Anthony Werkman, Marketing and Operations Director of Betway, said: “Davis Cup and Fed Cup by BNP Paribas fit perfectly within our roster of exciting, high profile sponsorships. We are especially looking forward to this weekend’s Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Final in Belgium, as it is a key market for us following our recent launch in the country.”

Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.