Lewis Macari: Notts County Defender in ‘Crazy’ to conclude betting

The catalog of offenses – and what Macari called “loads of mistakes” – occurred when he was between 18 and 20.

At this time, he was a young player passing through Stoke, a club owned by the Coates family, which also had the rights to bet on potters for more than a decade.

For almost three years that he was on the books of Stoke and placed the bets, the club played in the championship – a league with a betting company as a sponsor of the rights.

Although on loan at Dundalk, he played in an outfit with a betting company up front as a major sponsor.

“If there are betting ads anywhere these days it’s not something you don’t see,” Macari said.

“It’s there even if you don’t think about it.

“It’s so good for you, your phone and all the apps, to just go ahead and start betting on healing.”

Last time, analysis from the University of Bristol revealed that there were more than 5,000 found advertisements.

Even now at notts, he plays for a club that has a bookmaker advertised on its shorts.

The owners of the Club, Alex and Chris Reedtz, also own sports analytics footts football radar, which feeds information to the betting industry.

While the links exist, Macari emphasized that his teams – his team-mates and staff working at the club – supported him throughout the investigation in a way that “will be grateful for the rest of my life”.

In the days following the Mopies’ League Two Play-Off Semi-Final loss to AFC Wimbledon last season he was told his betting history was under scrutiny.

He was charged in July, just days after pre-season training began.

Macari admitted he struggled through months of uncertainty until he finally learned of his suspended ban and £750 fine in October.

“What hit me the most was the unknown of what was coming,” he said.

“It was hard and put a lot of weight on me. One of the worst things I did was the first google cases.

Macari now reflects on the relief that “it’s done and left”, but it remains a “strict” time in his career he wants other footballers to notice.

“It’s not worth placing a bet on football if you’re involved in it,” he said.

“I can tell you first hand that when you’re told you’re being investigated and get the charges and go through the hearing, it’s never a good feeling.

“It’s the unknown aspect of what could happen, because at the end of the day it’s our careers that feel like they’re on the line.”