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Sport betting market looks to protect itself
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16 September 2010
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By Bill Wilson
Business press reporter, BBC News
sports betting on sport is huge organization.
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Sport England estimates the worth of spending on sport-related gaming in England grew from ₤ 1.7 bn in 1985 to ₤ 2.8 bn in 2008.
Which figure is most likely to have grown even more, with an estimated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summer.
Meanwhile, German research study firm Sport & Markt approximates the overall international gambling market will deserve 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by web and sports betting.
But when the stability of events are struck the sports betting industry suffers, and revenues are put under danger if customers can not wager 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 betting gambling market now.
"Not just is it a substantial market in world business, it is one that is now on the front pages of papers."
Four Pakistan cricketers have been questioned by authorities over spot-fixing claims associating with a test against England at Lord's last month.
Three of these players have 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 champion John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing claims, however was prohibited last week for six months for failing to report the illegal method 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 greatest online sporting exchanges.
"If the sport is viewed as honest, straight and reasonable that benefits wagering companies because people will spend money wagering with self-confidence," he says.
"If you take the Pakistan allegations, although unrelated to the UK controlled betting industry ... it is not actually a favorable story for sports betting in the UK.
"That is due to the fact that the perception is that 'cricket is now something we might need to be mindful 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 points out: "The only people who can repair a match are the rivals or the referee."
His organisation represents men and females 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 simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, however that the way to deal with potential concerns around gamers is likewise through education.
Mr Taylor says rules require to be described plainly to players with clear examples, and by people they appreciate.
"Through informing gamers about sports betting you strengthen stability and that remains in everyone'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 advice at the Football Association, agrees.
"Prevention is better than cure, and we likewise make a point of telling players 'you are going to be caught'."
"It is vital that sport is straight, and is seen to be directly," he includes.
"If it loses that then people do not wish to bet, that is not in gaming firms' interests, and it is not in our interests."
He stated that as soon as a good credibility was lost, the damage to a sport was "incalculable".
FA rules imply players are not allowed to bet on a competition in which they are included.
Mr Johnson states players have to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside understanding, which he states could trigger "brand name damage" to football and its competitions.
So, even a 2nd 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 overcome to gamers the reputational risk to the game," he says. "Once self-confidence has been damaged it is difficult 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 established under the Gambling Act 2005 to regulate industrial gambling 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 sports betting, which is the remit of the FSA.
"The overwhelming bulk of sports betting occurring through UK operators is legal and reasonable," he says.
"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly hinder the result of a sporting occasion.
"Such unfaithful has the to undermine the stability of a sport, and it also hurts the industrial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting."
The commission has actually established an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and share information to sporting authorities, sports betting firms and policing authorities.
"Since 2007 we have experienced a substantial insight into world of corrupt sports betting wagering," he says.
"We will alert sports betting of our concerns, to assist avoid or cut [illegal] activity"
In May 2010, the commission likewise presented a confidential 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 guy who was cautioned for cheating in relation to greyhound racing.
However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still 8 continuous examinations, which much useful information has actually also been passed to sports betting authorities.
He said that where an examination by a sport governing body was quicker, and more cost reliable, then the commission would consider ceasing a criminal examination "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".
Meanwhile, he says a number of those looking to cheat the sports betting industry were educated about sports betting and sporting people, and about sports betting operations and the movement of money.
"They look for out the vulnerabilities of these to assist in their business."
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Related web links
World sports betting Law Report
ICC
Professional Players Federation
Professional Footballers' Association
The FA
Betfair
Sport & Markt
BLP
Gambling Commission
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Sport Betting Industry Looks To Protect Itself
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