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Azeem Rafiq – A Story Of Racism And Problem Gambling /

Azeem Rafiq – A Story Of Racism And Problem Gambling

It's true that Azeem Rafit suffered horrible racism whilst playing at Yorkshire. And this is absolutely unacceptable. Unfortunately, after the PCA had to suffer their worse public grilling in front of a select committee, some personal negative news appeared to leak out about Rafiq. Apparently, it was that the PCA was disappointed with the ex-player. After all, hadn't they helped him when he had a serious gambling problem? To the point of clearing his gambling debts and giving him counselling.

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New Gambling Admission from UK Cricket Player

Azeem Rafiq, a former UK cricket player has admitted that he used to have a serious gambling problem. So serious in fact, that the Professional Cricketers Association (PCA) actually covered his gambling debts. Apparently, the 30-year-old former player for Yorkshire found himself under a debt weight that was worth thousands of pounds a couple of years ago. Though he called his interest in gambling just “one of those indiscretions” it was a much more serious affair. We don’t actually know if he was betting on cricket. But more surprisingly, the PCA stepped in and they wiped clean his slate. At the same time, they arranged counselling for him. One of the most amazing aspects of this story is how well they kept it under wraps.

Right now the PCA is under a lot of pressure. You may well have seen all the claims of racism being rampant throughout UK cricket. Azeem Rafiq was one of the major players who called out many others, particularly in his county team of Yorkshire, as being racist. At the same time, he criticised the PCA for not supporting him when he went to them with his accusations against both players and coaches in Yorkshire. Later on, an independent report confirmed that seven of these allegations were true.

Azeem Rafiq Bites The Hand That Feeds Him

One month ago Azeem Rafiq appeared in front of the digital, Culture, Media, and Sport Select Committee in the UK Parliament. He was very angry that the PCA had refused to support him. Apparently, they showed only concern for his mental health as at times he was suicidal. As he said when he appeared before the committee, “The PCA have (sic) been a support to me throughout my career in a lot of different other aspects. But in terms of this case, it was made pretty clear to me that the support wasn’t there, and that’s just a straight fact.”

It is rather interesting that his problems with gambling have suddenly come into the public eye. Or more probably, from a leak within the PCA itself. On the one hand, we can understand that it must be very frustrating for the PCA with all the bad publicity he has drawn to them. On the other hand, they must also feel frustrated. Especially with the fact that they helped him out to such a degree with his gambling problems. And yet when it came to racism, Azeem Rafiq quite rightly threw everybody under the bus. Interestingly enough, the story about his gambling addiction appeared in no other than the Daily Mail. This newspaper, if you can call it that, is famous in the UK for digging up dirt, as well as its inherent racism.

Azeem Rafiq Isn’t the Only Gambling Athlete

Mind you, Azeem Rafiq isn’t the only sportsman to have had problems with gambling and trying to win the jackpot online. For example, baseball’s Alex Rodriguez and basketball’s Michael Jordan found themselves caught up in sports betting fever. Luckily they were able to seek counselling and thanks to that, could keep their betting activities under control. But there were some who continued and ended up living on the street. With so much corruption going on within sports betting, there are always concerns that a gambling addict gets into trouble or has outstanding debts. Then external pressure can cause them to sway or fix a game or match. For example, match-fixing is rampant in football. You might be surprised as to how many jackpot winning strategies are not exactly legal.

Like Azeem Rafiq, the San Jose Sharks forward, Evander Kane, was also called out for his gambling activities. During a custody battle fight with his ex-wife, she accused him of owing around $500,000 to the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas. She claimed it was for markers that he had extended. Even worse still, he was accused of betting on NHL games. This is a really serious allegation. Apparently, the NHL investigated but found his wife’s claims to be false. What’s that adage about a woman scorned? Nevertheless, we feel there’s no smoke without fire.

Sports Leagues Look to Squash Sports Betting

All the major sports have provisions that disbar both players and team members from placing bets on their own sports. But they are still allowed to bet on other sports, with the NFL being an exception. They prohibit everybody who works in the league except the players, from any type of sports betting. Since implementing its Gambling Policy in 2018, players are allowed to bet on sportsbooks providing they do not bet on NFL games. But all other NFL personnel, as it says in the Gambling Policy, can’t go placing, soliciting or facilitating sports bets. Certainly not on any other professional sports, including college, international and even Olympic events.

Mind you, if you want to have a flutter, then we suggest that you head over to 22Bet Sportsbook. They have every sport under the sun, and all with great odds. These will both help to increase your jackpot winning chances.

Maybe Azeem Rafiq Will Help Other Troubled Athletes

After going through the wringer thanks to Azeem Rafiq and the British Media, you can be sure that the PCA is going to take a deep look, and think long and hard about how they police sports betting. Particularly in the light of the treatment of Rafiq. There are already measures that stop players from betting on their own sports. But it appears that additional restrictions are necessary. As far as cricket goes, the PCA recently commissioned EPIC Risk Management to examine all aspects of gambling in cricket.

Unfortunately, though the initial agreement is to promote awareness of gambling issues in the public, it doesn’t go far enough in helping prevent gambling by the athletes themselves. We feel that if the UK gambling industry doesn’t take betting more seriously, then it’s quite possible that the government may step in. And you can guarantee that will not be a good result for anyone. Anyways, for the best sports betting jackpots, we think that 22Bet Sportsbook takes the biscuit. It’s a great website with lots of live betting action. And let’s not forget their bonkers 122% up to €100 as a welcome bonus for all new players.