Sport sports betting market seeks to safeguard itself
16 September 2010
By Bill Wilson
Business press reporter, BBC News
sports betting on sport is big organization.
Sport England estimates the worth of spending on sport-related gambling in England grew from ₤ 1.7 bn in 1985 to ₤ 2.8 bn in 2008.
Which figure is likely to have grown even more, with an approximated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summer season.
Meanwhile, German research company Sport & Markt approximates the total global sports betting market will deserve 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by internet and sports betting.
But when the stability of events are hit the gambling market suffers, and incomes are put under danger if customers can not bet with confidence.
And there can have been couple of higher-profile sport sports betting stories than those affecting cricket and snooker this year.
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High-profile
As Sport & Markt's Gareth Moore observes: "Everyone discuss the sports betting gambling market now.
"Not only is it a considerable market in world organization, it is one that is now on the front pages of newspapers."
Four Pakistan cricketers have been questioned by police over spot-fixing allegations relating to a test against England at Lord's last month.
Three of these players 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 allegations, but was prohibited last week for 6 months for stopping working to report the unlawful approach to him to toss frames.
There are likewise 2 other continuing investigations - not related to Mr Higgins - into snooker.
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'Honest'
David O'Reilly is legal counsel for Betfair, one of the UK's most significant online sporting exchanges.
"If the sport is perceived as honest, straight and fair that benefits sports betting firms because individuals will spend cash wagering with confidence," he states.
"If you take the Pakistan claims, although unrelated to the UK controlled wagering industry ... it is not truly a positive story for wagering in the UK.
"That is because the perception is that 'cricket is now something we may need to beware about'."
'Education'
So what can be done to avoid future scandals?
According to experts at a World sports betting Law Report conference into sports betting, the focus needs to be on sportsmen and sportswomen.
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 guys and females in 15 sports betting in the UK, being an umbrella organisation for all gamer organisations, such as the Professional Footballers' Association.
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He thinks that it is insufficient to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, however that the method to tackle prospective issues around players is likewise through education.
Mr Taylor says guidelines need to be described plainly to players with clear examples, and by people they appreciate.
"Through educating gamers about sports betting wagering you reinforce integrity which is in everyone's interest," he includes.
"If players are harder to corrupt then sport will be more difficult to corrupt."
'Brand damage'
Matt Johnson, head of regulatory legal suggestions at the Football Association, concurs.
"Prevention is better than remedy, and we also make a point of telling players 'you are going to be captured'."
"It is essential that sport is directly, and is seen to be directly," he includes.
"If it loses that then individuals do not desire to wager, that is not in sports betting companies' interests, and it is not in our interests."
He said that when a great reputation was lost, the damage to a sport was "incalculable".
FA guidelines imply players are not allowed to bank on a competition in which they are included.
Mr Johnson states gamers have to be seen not to be cashing in on any inside understanding, which he says might cause "brand damage" to football and its competitions.
So, even a Second Division gamer knocked out of the FA Cup in the autumn can not wager on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup final the following spring.
"We have to get over to players the reputational threat to the game," he says. "Once confidence has been harmed it is hard to get it back - mud sticks."
'Overwhelmingly legal'
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If this represents the "carrot" technique, then perhaps Nick Tofiluk, director of regulation at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".
The Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act 2005 to regulate industrial gambling in Great Britain.
An ex-chief constable of West Midlands authorities, 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 bulk of sports betting wagering occurring through UK operators is legal and fair," he says.
"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly disrupt the result of a sporting event.
"Such cheating has the to undermine the stability of a sport, and it likewise harms the commercial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting."
The commission has established an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and disseminate information to sporting authorities, sports betting firms and policing authorities.
"Since 2007 we have actually experienced a substantial insight into world of corrupt sports betting wagering," he states.
"We will inform sports betting of our concerns, to help avoid or cut [prohibited] activity"
In May 2010, the commission also presented a confidential telephone hotline for those with info or suspicions.
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'Vulnerabilities'
But in a two-and-a-half year duration there has been just one criminal prosecution, a 24-year-old male who was warned for unfaithful in relation to greyhound racing.
However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still eight continuous investigations, which much beneficial details has actually likewise been passed to sports betting authorities.
He stated that where an examination by a sport governing body was quicker, and more expense 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 much of those seeking to cheat the sports betting industry were knowledgeable about sports betting and sporting individuals, and about sports betting operations and the movement of money.
"They look for the vulnerabilities of these to assist in their business."
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Related internet links
World sports betting Law Report
ICC
Professional Players Federation
Professional Footballers' Association
The FA
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Betfair
Sport & Markt
BLP
Gambling Commission
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Sport Betting Industry Seeks To Protect Itself
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