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Sport betting market seeks to secure itself
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16 September 2010
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By Bill Wilson
Business reporter, BBC News
Betting on sport is substantial organization.
Sport England approximates the worth of spending on sport-related gambling in England grew from ₤ 1.7 bn in 1985 to ₤ 2.8 bn in 2008.
And that figure is most likely to have grown further, with an approximated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summer season.
Meanwhile, German research study firm 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 integrity of occasions are struck the sports betting industry suffers, and earnings are put under threat if consumers can not wager with self-confidence.
And there can have been few 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 substantial market in world company, it is one that is now on the front pages of papers."
Four Pakistan cricketers have actually been questioned by cops over spot-fixing claims connecting to a test against England at Lord's last month.
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Three of these gamers have 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 last week for six months for stopping working to report the unlawful method to him to toss frames.
There are also 2 other continuing examinations - unrelated 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, and reasonable that is good for sports betting companies since individuals will spend money sports betting with confidence," he says.
"If you take the Pakistan allegations, although unrelated to the UK managed sports betting industry ... it is not actually a favorable story for wagering in the UK.
"That is due to the fact that the understanding is that 'cricket is now something we might need to beware about'."
'Education'
So what can be done to prevent future scandals?
According to experts at a World sports betting Law Report conference into sports betting gambling, the focus has to be on sportspersons and sportswomen.
As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation points out: "The only people 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 believes that it is inadequate to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, but that the way to take on potential concerns around gamers is likewise through education.
Mr Taylor states guidelines need to be discussed plainly to players with clear examples, and by people they appreciate.
"Through informing players about sports betting you strengthen stability and that remains in everybody's interest," he includes.
"If players are harder to corrupt then sport will be harder to corrupt."
'Brand damage'
Matt Johnson, head of regulative legal guidance at the Football Association, concurs.
"Prevention is better than remedy, and we likewise make a point of informing players 'you are going to be caught'."
"It is essential that sport is straight, and is seen to be straight," 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 stated that once a good reputation was lost, the damage to a sport was "enormous".
FA guidelines mean gamers are not enabled to bank on a competitors in which they are involved.
Mr Johnson states gamers need to be seen not to be cashing in on any inside understanding, which he states could cause "brand name damage" to football and its competitions.
So, even a Second Division player knocked out of the FA Cup in the autumn can not bet on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup last the following spring.
"We have to get over to gamers the reputational threat to the game," he states. "Once self-confidence has been damaged it is tough to get it back - mud sticks."
'Overwhelmingly legal'
If this represents the "carrot" method, then maybe Nick Tofiluk, director of policy at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".
The Gambling Commission was set up under the Gambling Act 2005 to manage commercial sports betting in Great Britain.
An ex-chief constable of West Midlands cops, Mr Tofiluk has obligation for policing all betting in the UK apart from spread sports betting, which is the remit of the FSA.
"The frustrating bulk of sports betting taking location through UK operators is legal and reasonable," he says.
"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly disrupt the result of a sporting occasion.
"Such cheating has the prospective to weaken the integrity of a sport, and it also damages the business interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting."
The commission has developed an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and distribute info to sporting authorities, sports betting firms and policing authorities.
"Since 2007 we have actually experienced a significant insight into world of corrupt sports betting," he says.
"We will inform sports betting of our issues, to assist prevent or cut [prohibited] activity"
In May 2010, the commission also introduced a private telephone hotline for those with info or suspicions.
'Vulnerabilities'
But in a two-and-a-half year duration there has actually been just one criminal prosecution, a 24-year-old male who was warned for cheating in relation to greyhound racing.
However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still 8 continuous investigations, and that much helpful info has actually also been passed to sports betting authorities.
He said that where an examination by a sport governing body was quicker, and more cost efficient, then the commission would think about discontinuing a criminal examination "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".
Meanwhile, he says a lot of those wanting to cheat the sports betting industry were educated about sports betting and sporting individuals, and about betting operations and the motion of money.
"They look for the vulnerabilities of these to assist in their business."
Related web links
World sports betting Law Report
ICC
Professional Players Federation
Professional Footballers' Association
The FA
Betfair
Sport & Markt
BLP
Gambling Commission
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Sport Betting Industry Looks To Protect Itself
catharinemarch edited this page 2025-01-02 10:36:27 +08:00