sport-betting-industry-aims-to-protect-itself

Betting on sport is big 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.

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

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

But when the integrity of events are struck the gambling market suffers, and revenues are put under threat if clients 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 considerable market in world service, it is one that is now on the front pages of newspapers."

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

Three of these gamers have said they will likewise challenge the corruption charges installed 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 claims, however was banned last week for six months for stopping working to report the prohibited technique to him to throw frames.

There are also two other continuing examinations - not associated 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 sincere, straight and reasonable that benefits betting firms due to the fact that people will invest money wagering with confidence," he says.

"If you take the Pakistan claims, although unassociated to the UK managed wagering market ... it is not really a positive story for wagering in the UK.

"That is because the understanding is that 'cricket is now something we may have to be cautious 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 sportsmen and sportswomen.
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As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation explains: "The only people 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 believes that it is not adequate to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, but that the method to deal with potential concerns around gamers is also through education.

Mr Taylor says rules require to be described clearly to gamers with clear examples, and by individuals they appreciate.

"Through informing players about sports betting wagering you reinforce stability and that is in everybody's interest," he adds.

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

'Brand damage'

Matt Johnson, head of regulatory legal recommendations at the Football Association, concurs.

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

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

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

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

FA guidelines mean players are not allowed to wager on a competitors in which they are involved.

Mr Johnson states gamers need to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside understanding, which he says could trigger "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 bank on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup last the following spring.

"We have to get over to players the reputational danger to the game," he says. "Once self-confidence has been damaged 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 regulate commercial gaming in Great Britain.

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

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

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

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

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

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

"We will alert sports betting of our issues, to assist avoid or curtail [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 period there has been just one prosecution, a 24-year-old guy who was cautioned for unfaithful in relation to greyhound racing.

However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still 8 ongoing examinations, which much useful information has likewise been passed to sports authorities.

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

Meanwhile, he says a number of those aiming to cheat the sports wagering industry were educated about sports betting and sporting individuals, and about wagering operations and the movement of money.

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