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

Betting on sport is huge business.
bet9ja.com
Sport England estimates the value of spending on sport-related betting in England grew from ₤ 1.7 bn in 1985 to ₤ 2.8 bn in 2008.
bit.ly
Which figure is most 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 study company Sport & Markt approximates the general international gambling market will be worth 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by internet and sports betting gambling.

But when the integrity of occasions are struck the gaming industry suffers, and incomes are put under risk if clients can not bet with self-confidence.

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

High-profile

As Sport & Markt's Gareth Moore observes: "Everyone talks about the sports gambling market now.

"Not only is it a significant 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 connecting to a test against England at Lord's last month.

Three of these players have stated they will also 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 accusations, however was prohibited last week for 6 months for failing to report the illegal approach to him to throw frames.

There are also two other continuing examinations - not related 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 perceived as truthful, straight and fair that benefits betting firms because people will invest money wagering with self-confidence," he states.

"If you take the Pakistan allegations, although unassociated to the UK regulated betting industry ... it is not actually a positive story for betting 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 professionals at a World Sports Law Report conference into sports gambling, the focus has to be on sportsmen and sportswomen.

As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation points out: "The only individuals who can repair a match are the rivals or the referee."
bit.ly
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 insufficient to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, however that the method to take on potential issues around players is also through education.

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

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

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

'Brand damage'

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

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

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

"If it loses that then individuals don't desire to bet, that is not in gaming firms' interests, and it is not in our interests."

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

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

Mr Johnson says players need to be seen not to be cashing in on any inside knowledge, which he states might trigger "brand 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 need to get over to gamers the reputational danger to the game," he states. "Once self-confidence has been harmed it is difficult to get it back - mud sticks."

'Overwhelmingly legal'

If this represents the "carrot" technique, then maybe Nick Tofiluk, director of policy at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".

The Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act 2005 to manage business betting in Great Britain.

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

"The overwhelming bulk of sports betting taking location through UK operators is legal and reasonable," he says.

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

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

The commission has established an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and share information to sporting authorities, betting firms and policing authorities.

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

"We will alert sports of our concerns, to help prevent or cut [prohibited] activity"

In May 2010, the commission also introduced a private telephone hotline for those with info or suspicions.

'Vulnerabilities'

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

However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still 8 continuous investigations, which much beneficial details has actually also been passed to sports authorities.

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

Meanwhile, he states a lot of those seeking to cheat the sports betting wagering industry were educated about sports and sporting people, and about betting operations and the movement of money.

"They look for out the vulnerabilities of these to help in their enterprises."
bit.ly