Sport Betting Industry Aims To Protect Itself

Betting on sport is huge service.

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

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

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

But when the integrity of occasions are struck the gaming industry suffers, and incomes are put under danger if customers can not wager with confidence.

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 speak about the sports betting gambling market now.

"Not only 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 police over spot-fixing accusations connecting to 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 champ John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing allegations, however was banned last week for 6 months for stopping working to report the unlawful technique to him to toss frames.

There are also two other continuing examinations - unrelated to Mr Higgins - into snooker.

'Honest'

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

"If the sport is perceived as truthful, straight and reasonable that benefits betting companies because people will spend money wagering with confidence," he states.

"If you take the Pakistan claims, although unrelated to the UK regulated wagering market ... it is not really a favorable story for betting in the UK.

"That is due to the fact that the perception is that 'cricket is now something we might need to be cautious 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 needs to be on sportspersons and sportswomen.

As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation mentions: "The only individuals who can repair a match are the rivals 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.

He thinks that it is not sufficient to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, but that the method to take on prospective concerns around players is also through education.

Mr Taylor says rules need to be discussed plainly to gamers with clear examples, and by people they appreciate.

"Through informing players about sports wagering you strengthen stability which remains in everyone's interest," he includes.

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

'Brand damage'

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

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

"It is necessary that sport is straight, and is seen to be straight," he adds.

"If it loses that then people don't desire to bet, that is not in gambling companies' interests, and it is not in our interests."

He stated that as soon as a great track record was lost, the damage to a sport was "enormous".

FA guidelines indicate gamers are not enabled to wager on a competitors in which they are involved.

Mr Johnson says gamers have to be seen not to be cashing in on any inside understanding, which he says could cause "brand damage" to football and its competitors.

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

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

'Overwhelmingly legal'

If this represents the "carrot" method, then maybe 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 cops, Mr Tofiluk has obligation for policing all betting in the UK apart from spread wagering, which is the remit of the FSA.

"The overwhelming majority of sports wagering occurring through UK operators is legal and reasonable," he states.

"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly interfere with the outcome of a sporting event.

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

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

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

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

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

'Vulnerabilities'

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

However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still eight ongoing examinations, and that much useful information has also been passed to sports authorities.

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

Meanwhile, he states numerous of those wanting to cheat the sports betting market were knowledgeable about sports betting and sporting individuals, and about betting operations and the movement of money.

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