‘Courtsiding’ team travels world, court hears

Melbourne: The man arrested for alleged “courtsiding” at the Australian Open is a member of a team that travels the world sending real-time tennis scores to a British betting agency, a court heard on Thursday.

Briton Daniel Thomas Dobson, 22, is one of six people who transmit point updates to the agency, said prosecutors, who believe the practice is a scam aimed at corrupting betting odds.

Dobson is accused of using a device hidden in his shorts and hooked up to a mobile phone to send point updates from the Australian Open before they are available through official channels.

Prosecutor Luke Excell said he was one of six people engaged in “courtsiding” around the world. Dobson has been charged with one count of engaging in conduct that would corrupt a betting outcome.

“He’s previously been asked to leave a tournament in New Zealand,” Excell told Melbourne Magistrates Court.

Dobson’s lawyers say their client was merely collecting information for the betting agency. He was allowed to return to Britain until the case comes to court.

The Briton was arrested at the Grand Slam tournament last week following a tip-off from Tennis Australia.