Sport Betting Industry Looks To Protect Itself

Sport sports betting industry aims to protect itself

16 September 2010

By Bill Wilson

Business reporter, BBC News

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sports betting on sport is substantial organization.

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

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

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

But when the integrity of events are struck the sports betting market suffers, and incomes are put under hazard if customers can not wager with self-confidence.

And there can have been couple of higher-profile sport sports 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.

"Not only is it a substantial market in world service, it is one that is now on the front pages of papers."

Four Pakistan cricketers have actually been questioned by authorities over spot-fixing claims associating with a test against England at Lord's last month.

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

Meanwhile, three-times snooker world champ John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing claims, but was banned last week for 6 months for stopping working to report the prohibited approach 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 honest, straight and reasonable that is excellent for wagering companies due to the fact that people will spend cash sports betting with confidence," he says.

"If you take the Pakistan claims, although unrelated to the UK controlled wagering market ... it is not truly a positive story for wagering in the UK.

"That is since the perception is that 'cricket is now something we might need to take care 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 has to be on sportsmen 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 ladies 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 merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, however that the way to take on prospective issues around players is likewise through education.

Mr Taylor states rules require to be described clearly to players with clear examples, and by people they respect.

"Through educating gamers about sports betting you reinforce integrity and that is in everyone's interest," he includes.

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

'Brand damage'

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

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

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

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

He said that as soon as a great credibility was lost, the damage to a sport was "incalculable".

FA rules imply gamers are not enabled to bank on a competition in which they are included.

Mr Johnson states gamers have to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside knowledge, which he states could trigger "brand name damage" to football and its competitors.

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

"We have to overcome to players the reputational danger to the game," he states. "Once self-confidence has been harmed it is hard 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 regulate business sports betting in Great Britain.

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

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

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

"Such cheating has the possible to weaken the stability of a sport, and it likewise harms the commercial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting."

The commission has developed an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and distribute 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 notify sports betting of our concerns, to assist avoid or reduce [prohibited] activity"

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

'Vulnerabilities'

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

However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still eight ongoing investigations, which much beneficial details has likewise been passed to sports betting authorities.

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

Meanwhile, he states a lot of those wanting to cheat the sports betting market were well-informed about sports betting and sporting people, and about wagering operations and the movement of money.

"They seek out the vulnerabilities of these to assist in their enterprises."