Sport Betting Industry Wants To Protect Itself
Sport sports betting industry looks to protect 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 most likely to have actually grown even more, with an estimated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summertime.
Meanwhile, German research company Sport & Markt approximates the total international gaming 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 hit the sports betting market suffers, and earnings are put under hazard if clients can not bet with confidence.
And there can have been few higher-profile sport sports betting stories than those impacting cricket and snooker this year.
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High-profile
As Sport & Markt's Gareth Moore observes: "Everyone discuss the sports betting market now.
"Not only is it a significant market in world service, it is one that is now on the front pages of papers."
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Four Pakistan cricketers have been questioned by authorities over spot-fixing allegations connecting to a test against England at Lord's last month.
Three of these gamers have actually stated 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 accusations, but was prohibited last week for six months for failing to report the prohibited method to him to throw frames.
There are also 2 other continuing examinations - unrelated 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 perceived as sincere, straight and fair that benefits wagering companies due to the fact that people will spend money wagering with confidence," he states.
"If you take the Pakistan claims, although unrelated to the UK controlled sports betting market ... it is not truly a positive story for sports betting in the UK.
"That is because the understanding 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 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 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 believes that it is inadequate to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, but that the way to deal with prospective concerns around gamers is likewise through education.
Mr Taylor says rules need to be discussed plainly to gamers with clear examples, and by individuals they appreciate.
"Through educating gamers about sports betting you reinforce stability and that remains in everybody's interest," he adds.
"If players are harder to corrupt then sport will be harder to corrupt."
'Brand damage'
Matt Johnson, head of regulative legal recommendations at the Football Association, concurs.
"Prevention is better than treatment, and we also make a point of informing players 'you are going to be captured'."
"It is vital that sport is straight, and is seen to be directly," he includes.
"If it loses that then people don't want to wager, that is not in gambling companies' interests, and it is not in our interests."
He said that once a great track record was lost, the damage to a sport was "enormous".
FA rules mean gamers are not enabled to bet on a competitors in which they are included.
Mr Johnson states gamers need to be seen not to be cashing in on any inside understanding, which he says might "brand name damage" to football and its competitions.
So, even a 2nd Division player knocked out of the FA Cup in the fall can not wager on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup final the following spring.
"We have to overcome to gamers the reputational risk to the video game," he says. "Once confidence has actually been damaged it is hard to get it back - mud sticks."
'Overwhelmingly legal'
If this represents the "carrot" method, then possibly Nick Tofiluk, director of regulation at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".
The Gambling Commission was set up under the Gambling Act 2005 to manage industrial gaming in Great Britain.
An ex-chief constable of West Midlands police, Mr Tofiluk has obligation for policing all sports betting in the UK apart from spread wagering, which is the remit of the FSA.
"The overwhelming bulk of sports betting happening through UK operators is legal and reasonable," he says.
"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly disrupt the result of a sporting event.
"Such unfaithful has the possible to weaken the integrity of a sport, and it likewise hurts the industrial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting."
The commission has developed an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and share information to sporting authorities, sports betting firms and policing authorities.
"Since 2007 we have experienced a considerable insight into world of corrupt sports betting," he says.
"We will notify sports betting of our issues, to help prevent or reduce [unlawful] activity"
In May 2010, the commission also presented a confidential telephone hotline for those with info or suspicions.
'Vulnerabilities'
But in a two-and-a-half year period there has actually been just one prosecution, a 24-year-old man who was cautioned for unfaithful in relation to greyhound racing.
However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still 8 ongoing investigations, and that much useful info has likewise been passed to sports betting authorities.
He said that where an investigation by a sport governing body was quicker, and more expense efficient, then the commission would consider terminating a criminal investigation "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".
Meanwhile, he says many of those looking to cheat the sports betting industry were educated about sports betting and sporting people, and about wagering operations and the movement of cash.
"They look for the vulnerabilities of these to help in their business."
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Related internet 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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