Sport Betting Industry Wants To Protect Itself

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Sport wagering market aims to safeguard itself

16 September 2010

By Bill Wilson

Business press reporter, BBC News

sports betting on sport is big business.

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

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

Meanwhile, German research study firm Sport & Markt approximates the overall worldwide sports betting market will deserve 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by web and sports betting gaming.

But when the integrity of occasions are struck the gaming market suffers, and revenues are put under threat if customers can not bet with self-confidence.

And there can have been few higher-profile sport wagering stories than those impacting cricket and snooker this year.

High-profile

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

"Not just is it a significant market in world organization, it is one that is now on the front pages of newspapers."

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

Three of these players have actually 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 champion John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing allegations, but was prohibited last week for six months for failing to report the prohibited method to him to throw frames.

There are likewise 2 other continuing investigations - not related to Mr Higgins - into snooker.

'Honest'

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

"If the sport is viewed as truthful, straight and reasonable that benefits sports betting firms because people will invest cash sports betting with confidence," he says.

"If you take the Pakistan accusations, although unassociated to the UK controlled sports betting industry ... it is not truly a positive story for wagering in the UK.

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

'Education'

So what can be done to prevent future scandals?

According to professionals at a World sports betting Law Report conference into sports betting gambling, the focus needs to be on sportsmen and sportswomen.

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

His organisation represents men and women 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 adequate to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, but that the method to deal with potential problems around players is likewise through education.

Mr Taylor says guidelines require to be discussed plainly to players with clear examples, and by people they appreciate.

"Through educating gamers about sports betting wagering you strengthen integrity which is in everybody's interest," he includes.

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

'Brand damage'

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

"Prevention is better than remedy, 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 do not wish to wager, that is not in sports betting companies' interests, and it is not in our interests."

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

FA rules imply gamers are not allowed to bank on a competitors in which they are included.

Mr Johnson states players need to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside understanding, which he says might cause "brand damage" to football and its competitors.

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

"We need to get over to gamers the reputational threat to the game," he states. "Once self-confidence has been harmed it is tough to get it back - mud sticks."

'Overwhelmingly legal'

If this represents the "carrot" approach, then possibly Nick Tofiluk, director of guideline at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".

The Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act 2005 to regulate commercial gambling in Great Britain.

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

"The frustrating bulk of sports betting taking place through UK operators is legal and reasonable," he states.

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

"Such cheating has the possible to undermine the stability of a sport, and it also damages the industrial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting."

The commission has established an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and disseminate details to sporting authorities, sports betting companies and policing authorities.

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

"We will notify sports betting of our issues, to help prevent or curtail [prohibited] activity"

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

'Vulnerabilities'

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

However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still eight continuous investigations, which much beneficial info has also been passed to sports betting authorities.

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

Meanwhile, he states much of those looking to cheat the sports betting wagering market were educated about sports betting and sporting individuals, and about wagering operations and the motion of cash.

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