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

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Betting on sport is substantial business.
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Sport England estimates the worth of spending on sport-related betting in England grew from ₤ 1.7 bn in 1985 to ₤ 2.8 bn in 2008.
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And that figure is most likely to have actually grown even more, with an estimated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summertime.

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

But when the stability of occasions are hit the gaming industry suffers, and revenues are put under danger if customers can not wager with confidence.

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

High-profile

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

"Not just 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 police over spot-fixing allegations associating with a test versus England at Lord's last month.

Three of these gamers have said they will also challenge the corruption charges mounted 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, however was prohibited last week for 6 months for failing to report the unlawful technique to him to throw frames.

There are likewise 2 other continuing examinations - unrelated to Mr Higgins - into snooker.

'Honest'

David O'Reilly is legal counsel for Betfair, among the UK's most significant online sporting exchanges.

"If the sport is viewed as sincere, straight and reasonable that is great for wagering firms since people will invest money betting with confidence," he says.

"If you take the Pakistan allegations, although unassociated to the UK regulated wagering industry ... it is not actually a positive story for betting in the UK.

"That is since the understanding is that 'cricket is now something we may have to beware about'."

'Education'

So what can be done to prevent future scandals?

According to specialists at a World Sports Law Report conference into sports betting, the focus has to be on sportspersons and sportswomen.

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

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

He thinks that it is not enough to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, but that the way to take on prospective problems around players is likewise through education.

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

"Through educating players about sports betting wagering you reinforce 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 regulatory legal guidance at the Football Association, concurs.

"Prevention is much better than remedy, and we likewise make a point of informing gamers 'you are going to be captured'."

"It is vital that sport is straight, and is seen to be straight," he includes.

"If it loses that then individuals do not want to wager, that is not in gambling firms' interests, and it is not in our interests."

He said that once a good credibility was lost, the damage to a sport was "enormous".

FA rules imply players are not allowed to wager on a competition in which they are involved.

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

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

"We need to get over to gamers the reputational danger to the video game," he says. "Once confidence has actually been harmed it is difficult 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 regulate business gaming in Great Britain.

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

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

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

"Such cheating has the possible to weaken the integrity of a sport, and it also hurts the commercial interests of sports betting bodies and sports wagering."

The commission has actually developed an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and share information to sporting authorities, betting firms and policing authorities.

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

"We will notify sports betting of our issues, to help avoid or reduce [illegal] activity"

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

'Vulnerabilities'

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

However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still 8 continuous examinations, and that much useful information 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 ceasing a criminal investigation "in favour of letting sports governing bodies take the lead".
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Meanwhile, he says much of those looking to cheat the sports betting industry were educated about sports and sporting people, and about betting operations and the motion of cash.

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