New Zealand crackdowns on racing industry

As the country may change the current racing laws, licenced operators were investigated.

New Zealand.- The New Zealand national police has started a crackdown on licenced racing operations as a long legal process for race fixing has started in the country. So far, seven people have been arrested after police raided ten stables earlier this week, according to local media.

“Today’s warrants were the result of a long running investigation by the National Organised Crime Group (of the NZ Police) into alleged corruption within the harness racing industry,” Detective Superintendent Tim Anderson said.

Furthermore, Anderson added that the “raids with search warrants followed a 17 month investigation into race fixing and doping which began with information supplied by the racing industry’s Racing Integrity Unit, an independent statutory body which acts to monitor and police the racing industry.”

The racing industry in New Zealand is also expecting further regulations, as official sources have revealed that “big gambling companies in Australia have proposed giving the industry an up-front cash payment and more money, said to be €57,33 million over 25 years if they get the licence to control betting on NZ races.”