sport-betting-industry-looks-to-protect-itself

Betting on sport is huge company.
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Sport England approximates the value of costs on sport-related gaming in England grew from ₤ 1.7 bn in 1985 to ₤ 2.8 bn in 2008.

And that figure is most likely to have actually grown further, with an estimated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summertime.

Meanwhile, German research company Sport & Markt estimates the general worldwide gambling market will be worth 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by web and sports betting gaming.

But when the integrity of events are struck the gambling industry suffers, and earnings are put under hazard if clients can not bet with confidence.

And there can have been couple of higher-profile sport betting stories than those affecting cricket and snooker this year.

High-profile

As Sport & Markt's Gareth Moore observes: "Everyone talks about the sports betting gambling market now.

"Not just is it a considerable market in world business, it is one that is now on the front pages of papers."

Four Pakistan cricketers have been questioned by cops over spot-fixing allegations connecting to a test against England at Lord's last month.

Three of these players have actually said they will also challenge the corruption charges installed versus the trio by the sport governing body the International Cricket Council.

Meanwhile, three-times snooker world champion John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing allegations, but was prohibited recently for 6 months for failing to report the illegal approach to him to toss frames.

There are likewise 2 other continuing investigations - not associated to Mr Higgins - into snooker.

'Honest'

David O'Reilly is legal counsel for Betfair, one of the UK's biggest online sporting exchanges.

"If the sport is perceived as sincere, straight and reasonable that benefits wagering companies since individuals will invest cash betting with self-confidence," he says.

"If you take the Pakistan accusations, although unassociated to the UK managed wagering market ... it is not actually a positive story for wagering in the UK.

"That is since the perception is that 'cricket is now something we might need to be mindful about'."

'Education'

So what can be done to prevent future scandals?

According to specialists at a World sports betting Law Report conference into sports betting gambling, the focus needs to be on sportsmen and sportswomen.

As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation points out: "The only individuals who can fix a match are the rivals or the referee."

His organisation represents males and females in 15 sports betting in the UK, being an umbrella organisation for all gamer organisations, such as the Professional Footballers' Association.

He thinks that it is insufficient to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, however that the way to tackle potential problems around gamers is likewise through education.

Mr Taylor says guidelines need to be described plainly to players with clear examples, and by people they respect.

"Through educating gamers about sports betting you strengthen stability which remains in everybody's interest," he adds.

"If players are harder to corrupt then sport will be more difficult to corrupt."

'Brand damage'

Matt Johnson, head of regulative legal guidance at the Football Association, agrees.

"Prevention is better than remedy, and we also make a point of informing players 'you are going to be caught'."

"It is vital that sport is directly, and is seen to be directly," he adds.

"If it loses that then people do not desire to wager, that is not in betting firms' interests, and it is not in our interests."

He said that when a good track record was lost, the damage to a sport was "incalculable".

FA rules suggest gamers are not enabled to bet on a competition in which they are involved.

Mr Johnson says players need to be seen not to be cashing in on any inside understanding, which he states might trigger "brand name damage" to football and its competitions.

So, even a 2nd Division gamer knocked out of the FA Cup in the fall can not bank on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup last the following spring.

"We have to overcome to gamers the reputational danger to the game," he states. "Once confidence has been harmed it is hard to get it back - mud sticks."

'Overwhelmingly legal'

If this represents the "carrot" method, then perhaps Nick Tofiluk, director of guideline at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".

The Gambling Commission was set up under the Gambling Act 2005 to control business gambling in Great Britain.

An ex-chief constable of West Midlands authorities, Mr Tofiluk has responsibility for policing all betting in the UK apart from spread wagering, which is the remit of the FSA.

"The overwhelming bulk of sports betting occurring through UK operators is legal and fair," he states.

"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly disrupt the result of a sporting occasion.

"Such cheating has the prospective to weaken the stability of a sport, and it likewise hurts the industrial interests of sports bodies and sports betting wagering."

The commission has actually developed an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and disseminate information to sporting authorities, wagering companies and policing authorities.

"Since 2007 we have experienced a substantial insight into world of corrupt sports betting wagering," he says.

"We will signal sports betting of our issues, to assist prevent or curtail [illegal] activity"

In May 2010, the commission likewise introduced a confidential telephone hotline for those with info or suspicions.

'Vulnerabilities'

But in a two-and-a-half year duration there has been simply one prosecution, a 24-year-old man who was cautioned for cheating in relation to greyhound racing.

However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still eight continuous investigations, which much useful info has likewise been passed to sports betting authorities.

He said that where an investigation by a sport governing body was quicker, and more cost efficient, then the commission would think about stopping a criminal investigation "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".
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Meanwhile, he says numerous of those looking to cheat the sports betting wagering market were knowledgeable about sports betting and sporting people, and about wagering operations and the motion of money.

"They look for the vulnerabilities of these to help in their business."
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