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

Betting on sport is big service.

Sport England estimates the worth of spending on sport-related gaming in England grew from ₤ 1.7 bn in 1985 to ₤ 2.8 bn in 2008.

Which figure is likely to have grown even more, with an approximated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summer.

Meanwhile, German research company Sport & Markt approximates the total international gambling market will deserve 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by web and sports betting.

But when the stability of events are hit the gaming market suffers, and profits are put under risk if clients can not wager with self-confidence.
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And there can have been few higher-profile sport betting stories than those impacting cricket and snooker this year.

High-profile

As Sport & Markt's Gareth Moore observes: "Everyone discuss the sports betting gambling market now.
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"Not only is it a considerable market in world company, it is one that is now on the front pages of papers."

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

Three of these gamers 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 claims, however was banned last week for six months for stopping working to report the illegal technique to him to toss frames.

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

'Honest'

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

"If the sport is perceived as truthful, straight and reasonable that is good for wagering firms due to the fact that individuals will spend cash wagering with self-confidence," he states.

"If you take the Pakistan claims, although unrelated to the UK managed betting industry ... it is not actually a favorable story for betting in the UK.

"That is because the perception is that 'cricket is now something we may need to beware about'."

'Education'

So what can be done to avoid future scandals?

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

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

His organisation represents males and females in 15 sports in the UK, being an umbrella organisation for all gamer organisations, such as the Professional Footballers' Association.
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He believes that it is inadequate to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, but that the way to take on possible issues around gamers is also through education.

Mr Taylor says guidelines need to be described plainly to gamers with clear examples, and by individuals they appreciate.

"Through informing players about sports betting you strengthen integrity and that remains in everybody's interest," he adds.

"If gamers are harder to corrupt then sport will be harder to corrupt."

'Brand damage'

Matt Johnson, head of regulatory legal suggestions at the Football Association, agrees.

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

"It is crucial that sport is directly, and is seen to be directly," he includes.

"If it loses that then individuals don't desire to wager, that is not in gaming companies' interests, and it is not in our interests."

He said that as soon as an excellent track record was lost, the damage to a sport was "incalculable".

FA rules imply players are not allowed to bank on a competitors in which they are involved.

Mr Johnson states gamers have to be seen not to be cashing in on any inside knowledge, 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 autumn can not bet on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup final the following spring.

"We have to get over to players the reputational threat to the video game," he says. "Once confidence has been harmed it is tough to get it back - mud sticks."

'Overwhelmingly legal'

If this represents the "carrot" technique, then maybe Nick Tofiluk, director of regulation at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".

The Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act 2005 to manage industrial betting in Great Britain.

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

"The frustrating majority of sports wagering occurring through UK operators is legal and fair," he says.

"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly hinder the outcome of a sporting occasion.
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"Such cheating has the prospective to undermine the stability of a sport, and it also hurts the industrial interests of sports bodies and sports betting wagering."

The commission has established an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and disseminate details to sporting authorities, wagering firms and policing authorities.

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

"We will notify sports of our concerns, to help prevent or curtail [prohibited] activity"

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

'Vulnerabilities'

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

However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still 8 ongoing examinations, and that much useful details has actually likewise been passed to sports betting authorities.

He stated that where an examination by a sport governing body was quicker, and more cost efficient, then the commission would consider ceasing a criminal examination "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".

Meanwhile, he says a lot of those aiming to cheat the sports betting market were well-informed about sports and sporting individuals, and about betting operations and the motion of cash.

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