Sport sports betting industry looks to safeguard itself
16 September 2010
By Bill Wilson
Business reporter, BBC News
sports betting on sport is big organization.
Sport England approximates the value of spending on sport-related gambling 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 approximated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summer.
Meanwhile, German research study firm Sport & Markt approximates the total worldwide gaming market will deserve 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by web and sports betting gambling.
But when the integrity of events are hit the gaming industry suffers, and incomes are put under risk if clients 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.
High-profile
As Sport & Markt's Gareth Moore observes: "Everyone talks about the sports betting 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 cops over spot-fixing claims connecting to a test against England at Lord's last month.
Three of these gamers have actually stated they will also challenge the corruption charges mounted 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 recently for six months for stopping working to report the unlawful technique to him to toss frames.
There are also two other continuing investigations - 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 viewed as sincere, straight and fair that benefits betting firms because individuals will invest money wagering with confidence," he states.
"If you take the Pakistan accusations, although unrelated to the UK regulated betting industry ... it is not actually a favorable story for wagering in the UK.
"That is because the perception is that 'cricket is now something we may need to be cautious 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 gambling, the focus has 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 gamer organisations, such as the Professional Footballers' Association.
He thinks that it is not sufficient to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, however that the method to tackle possible concerns around gamers is also through .
Mr Taylor states guidelines need to be discussed clearly to players with clear examples, and by people they respect.
"Through informing players about sports betting you enhance integrity and that is in everyone's interest," he adds.
"If gamers are more difficult to corrupt then sport will be more difficult to corrupt."
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'Brand damage'
Matt Johnson, head of regulatory legal advice at the Football Association, concurs.
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"Prevention is much 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 people don't desire to bet, that is not in gambling firms' 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 "enormous".
FA rules imply gamers are not permitted to wager on a competitors in which they are included.
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Mr Johnson says gamers have to be seen not to be cashing in on any inside knowledge, which he says might trigger "brand damage" to football and its competitors.
So, even a Second 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 risk to the video game," he states. "Once self-confidence has actually 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 guideline at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".
The Gambling Commission was set up under the Gambling Act 2005 to manage business gaming 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 occurring through UK operators is legal and fair," he says.
"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly hinder the result of a sporting event.
"Such unfaithful has the prospective to weaken the stability of a sport, and it also harms the business interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting wagering."
The commission has established an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and disseminate information to sporting authorities, wagering companies and policing authorities.
"Since 2007 we have experienced a significant insight into world of corrupt sports betting," he states.
"We will inform sports betting of our concerns, to help avoid or curtail [unlawful] activity"
In May 2010, the commission likewise introduced a private telephone hotline for those with information or suspicions.
'Vulnerabilities'
But in a two-and-a-half year period there has actually been just one prosecution, a 24-year-old male who was warned for unfaithful in relation to greyhound racing.
However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still eight ongoing investigations, and that much beneficial information has actually likewise been passed to sports betting authorities.
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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 states much of those wanting to cheat the sports betting industry were educated about sports betting and sporting people, and about wagering operations and the motion of cash.
"They seek out the vulnerabilities of these to assist in their enterprises."
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Related internet links
World sports betting Law Report
ICC
Professional Players Federation
Professional Footballers' Association
bet9ja.com
The FA
Betfair
Sport & Markt
BLP
Gambling Commission
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Sport Betting Industry Wants To Protect Itself
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