Australia’s largest online gambling company, Sportsbet, reportedly paid Christos Kyrgios, the brother of tennis player Nick Kyrgios, $40,000 in 2018 to promote the site according to a report by Australian television’s 7.30 new report.
The program reported that the Christos Kyrgios made a controversial appearance at the 2018 Australian Open, wearing two Sportsbet-branded shirts at his brother’s matches. The appearance resulted in a referral from Tennis Australia to the international Tennis Integrity Unit.
“The TIU does not disclose information about or make detailed comment on specific individual cases, unless they result in a conviction, which is then made public,” a spokesman for the TIU told 7.30. “Therefore, while we can confirm that the TIU is aware of the matter involving Christos Kyrgios at the Australian Open in 2018, we are unable to make any further comment on the subject.”
Neither Kyrgios commented on the story. Sportsbet officials told the program that the company takes integrity issues every seriously, but would not comment on the Kyrgios payment.
The program noted that a recent independent review of tennis integrity rules made a series of recommendations, including that major tennis events cease accepting sponsorships from the betting industry.
The TIU prohibits players from encouraging people to wager on tennis competitions, including by making appearances for gambling operators or making personal appearances for them. The rules also extend to other “covered persons”, which can include family members and other associates.
